Assam Flood Making a Catastrophic Situation with a Rising Death Toll.
Another devastating flood in Assam. The number is rising every hour, and this year in 2024, this monsoon flood is only a start it will get much worse.
The geographical structure of Assam is the major reason for so many natural disasters in Assam. Mainly it’s the rivers, there are over 50 tributaries that connect with the Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers which mainly cause the floods.
Almost every year in the monsoon period, too many rivers all over Assam naturally lead to floods and erosion which has a negative impact on all over the state.
When it comes to flooding and the amount of erosion Assam is different than other states, because of how it is situated which makes it more vulnerable.
The land has uneven topography, full of hills, rivers, and plains. Assam the state, contains three of six physiographic (geographics/study of earth’s surface) divisions of India – The Northern Himalayas (Eastern Hills), The Northern Plains (Brahmaputra Plains), and the Deccan Plateau (Karbi Anglong).
And climate wise Assam is mostly with high levels of humidity and heavy rainfall. So, mainly river erosion, encroachment of riverbanks and wetlands, the lack of drainage systems, and unplanned urban growth all together contribute to the recurring floods.
The Brahmaputra River, which runs throughout the state, is the major reason for flooding in this state. This river is considered the most flood-prone river in the entire world due to its high sediment and unpredictable flooding pattern.
The high intensity of monsoonal rains and devastating landslides, coupled with disintegrated rocks, steep slopes, and high seismicity cause natural floods in the Brahmaputra River.
Lakhimpur remained the worst-hit district in Assam with way more than one lakh people heavily affected by the flood, also Dhemaji with over one lakh, and Cachar with over sixty thousand people.
The death toll in this year’s flood with storm and landslides has reached 45 with the latest fatality.
The total number of 8,142 displaced people were taking refuge shelter in 72 relief camps, with another 64 relief centers also in action. As Kamrup, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath, and Jorhat were overrun by floodwaters.
This recent flood in Assam has made the state miserable where over six lakh people are being affected in 19 districts of the state.
According to the Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma in a recent media conference, at least eight rivers are flowing over the danger mark, with Brahmaputra at its highest flood level at Nematighat in Jorhat district.
He also mentioned the flood in Assam has worsened due to the heavy rainfall in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh. In the coming days, the situation will get “critical” as the weather department has predicted.
And because of the heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, the state is facing a “second wave of flooding” as mentioned by Mr. Sarma.
In the press conference, Mr. Sarma said, “41 revenue circles have been affected so far, if the rain continues for the next three days the situation will become harder, critical.”
He continues, “Even in Kaziranga, all the forest regional post, almost ninety-five percent regional has been submersed, the animal has started migrating from the reserve forest to the nearby hills.”
He also mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji had called him and assured him all help, also that the Army, NDRF, and everyone would be on standby so they could all work hand in hand with the government of Assam Also the PM has advised him that, their MLAs, Ministers should be on the field to help the flood affected people.
The Prime Minister has also reassured him that, any help the government of Assam will seek will be provided.
Mr. Sarma also said that Home Minister Amit Shah ji has also called him, and also reviewed the flood situation. He continued, “I am confident that if the situation doesn’t worsen from here, we will be able to provide relief, and rehabilitation to the people. But of course, if the situation worsens, we might have to take help from the Army, so we are closely monitoring the situation.”
“We want to reassure the people of Assam that both the government of India and the government of Assam will be there to help completely in whatever way it needs to be,” said Mr. Sarma.
Mr. Sarma has also written in his Twitter post saying, that the Prime Minister has assured him of full cooperation from the Government of India “in this hour of crisis.”
Assam is on high alert as it braces for more heavy rainfalls in upcoming days as the India Meteorological Department has confirmed.
Assam state almost every year faces heavy rainfalls, and floods in the vast rivers, in this monsoon season, and loses lives and properties, and large-scale destruction.
As per (ASDMA) Assam State Disaster Management Authority, many agencies like SDRF, NDRF, Army, Air Force, and local administration are currently engaged in rescue operations.
In Dhemaji nine people were air-lifted by the Air Force, in the Dibrugarh district 13 people were stranded on a river coast and rescued by the Air Force. The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed its helicopters from the Mohanbari base to execute such a challenging rescue operation.
And it was confirmed as well that all the rescued people were safe.
Also, 64 boats have constantly been doing rescue operations from various highly affected areas, they’ve been saving people as well as animals.
The air support started when it seemed the boat rescue operations were too hazardous, especially on the Brahmaputra River.
The major rivers who’s been flowing above the danger level are Brahmaputra (Tezpur), Subansiri (Badatighat), Dikhou (Sivasagar), Disang (Nanglamuraghat), Burhidihing (Chenimari and Khowang), Jia-Bharali (Nt Road Crossing), Beki (Road Bridge), and Kushiyara (Karimganj).
Arunachal Pradesh is well facing a similar situation, where the 11 Assam Rifles and NDRF have recently conducted an early morning rescue mission on specialized boats saving 70 students, five teachers, and a few other civilians.
Now the governments are also taking precautionary measures for the neighboring states.
A significant number of infrastructures were destroyed, including roads, bridges, and embankments.
The food situation is critical in Assam as well as in Arunachal Pradesh given the heavy constant rainfalls.
There are various relief camp websites available online from where anyone can send help to the people in Assam.
