Assam Flood Crisis Deepens: Death Toll Rises to 66, Over 650,000 People Affected Across Ten Districts

Another grim day in Assam – the flood count has gone up again. Four more people have been confirmed dead in the last 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 66, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). It’s a sobering reminder that the water isn’t going away any time soon.

The fresh fatalities include three in Sivasagar district and one in Charaideo. Of the 66 lives lost so far, 65 are linked directly to the raging floods, while a single tragedy was recorded in an urban‑flooding incident.

Numbers on the ground are still staggering. Roughly 6.54 lakh folks – that’s over 650,000 people – are grappling with the aftermath across ten districts: Golaghat, Charaideo, Kamrup, Hojai, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Kamrup (Metro) and Nagaon.

Sivasagar bears the heaviest burden, with close to 2,91,000 residents affected. Charaideo follows with about 1,88,000 people, and Jorhat isn’t far behind at roughly 1,32,000. The floodwaters have swamped 810 villages spread over 28 revenue circles, turning once‑busy streets into quiet, water‑logged lanes.

Agriculture, the lifeline of the region, has taken a massive hit – nearly 34,971 hectares of crop land remain underwater, threatening the upcoming harvest season and the livelihoods of countless farmers.

Urban flooding hasn’t been spared either. Parts of Kamrup and its metro area have seen water levels rise above the danger mark, affecting 86 people across two revenue circles.

Rivers are still raging. The Central Water Commission reports that the Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri (South) at Numaligarh continue to flow above dangerous levels, leaving officials on edge.

To help the displaced, the state has set up 274 relief facilities – that’s 90 relief camps and 184 distribution centres. At present, 18,902 people are sheltering in these camps, including 2,157 children and 187 pregnant or lactating women. It’s a massive logistical challenge, but the numbers show the scale of the response.

Infrastructure has suffered too. About 143 roads have been damaged, mostly in Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo. Ten embankments have been hit, with seven breaches recorded in Sivasagar alone, further complicating rescue and relief work.

The livestock sector is feeling the squeeze. Roughly 4,54,071 animals have been affected, and 3,021, including poultry, have been swept away by the floodwaters.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local authorities are still on the ground, evacuating stranded families and delivering essential supplies.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently visited relief camps in Sivasagar, describing the situation as “extremely critical.” He emphasized that both the Centre and the Assam government are working hand‑in‑hand to support affected families while rescue operations continue across the state.