Assam is grappling with a worsening second wave of floods, resulting in two deaths and a dramatic increase in affected individuals, from 1.33 lakh across seven districts to 2.62 lakh in 12 districts.
The fatalities occurred in Dhemaji district, heavily impacted by floodwaters from Arunachal Pradesh’s recent heavy rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Arunachal Pradesh, predicting isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with possible extreme downpours in the next 24 hours.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the state’s flood-related death toll has now reached 34. The recent deaths involved a nine-month-old child who drowned in Gogamukh and a teenage boy who drowned in Jonal.
Several rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Dikhou, Jia-Bharali, Beki, and Kushiyara, are flowing above the danger level, as reported by the Central Water Commission.
To assist those affected, 44 relief camps and eight distribution centres have been established, sheltering over 2,500 people. Dhemaji district in upper Assam is the worst hit, with 69,252 people affected, followed by Cachar district with 61,895 impacted individuals. On Sunday, disaster management agencies, including the NDRF and SDRF, evacuated 323 people. Fifteen medical teams have been deployed to provide healthcare services.
In Arunachal Pradesh, villages in the Changlang and Lower Dibang Valley districts are flooded, disrupting road communication. Rescue operations by the Assam Rifles and local administrations are underway to evacuate stranded villagers, particularly in the severely affected Changlang district.
The IMD forecast indicates widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning over northeast India for the next five days. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya experienced extremely heavy rainfall of 33 cm and 24 cm, respectively, in the last 24 hours. Pasighat and Roing in Arunachal Pradesh also saw significant rainfall. The Met office has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rain over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya on Monday.
