The first wave of monsoon floods in Assam has affected more than 22,000 people across six districts, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured all possible assistance from the Centre to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as heavy rain continued to batter the two northeastern states.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 22,124 people have been affected in Dhemaji, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar districts. Dhemaji is the worst-hit district, with 15,483 people affected by rising floodwaters.
Floodwaters have inundated 96 villages and damaged nearly 1,690 hectares of crop land. The Disang River in Sivasagar district is flowing above the danger mark at Nanglamuraghat, raising fears of further inundation in low-lying areas. ASDMA also said 48,199 livestock have been affected.
Heavy rainfall also damaged infrastructure, with a railway bridge over the Simen River in Dhemaji partially collapsing due to erosion, disrupting rail services. According to the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway, rainfall exceeding 110 mm triggered severe riverbank erosion near the bridge, forcing suspension of train services between Archipathar and Simen Chapari stations.
Railway authorities said the bridge, originally built in 1965 and later converted to broad gauge, remained structurally sound but one of its piers became unstable after the riverbank was washed away.
Also read: Assam on alert as flood wave from Arunachal heads downstream
Meanwhile, Shah spoke separately with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to review the flood situation.
Sarma said in a social media post that he briefed the Union home minister on the relief and rehabilitation measures underway.
"He has also assured us all possible support and assistance from the Government of India to deal with this situation," Sarma said, thanking Shah for enquiring about the flood situation in Dhemaji.
In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, torrential rain continued to trigger floods and landslides, disrupting road connectivity, damaging infrastructure and claiming lives across around 12 districts. Rescue and evacuation operations are underway, while Indian Air Force sorties, suspended overnight because of poor visibility, resumed on Monday morning.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over East Siang, Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare districts. Authorities have advised people to avoid travelling through landslide-prone and flood-affected areas unless absolutely necessary.
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