In a catastrophic turn of events, heavy flooding has wreaked havoc in Assam, affecting over 1.61 lakh people across 15 districts. Compounding the disaster, a landslide in the Badarpur area of Karimganj district claimed five lives, bringing the total death toll due to flooding since Cyclone Remal’s landfall in May to approximately 30.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that Karimganj is the worst-hit district, with 1,52,133 individuals grappling with floodwaters. The floods have ravaged 1,378.64 hectares of crops and impacted 54,877 animals. A total of 470 villages across 24 revenue circles have been submerged, forcing around 5,114 people to seek refuge in 43 relief camps.
The landslide in Badarpur occurred late Tuesday night. Partha Protim Das, Superintendent of Police for Karimganj district, detailed the swift response: “At 12.45 am, we received information about a landslide in Gainachora (Bendargool) village under the Badarpur police station. The officer-in-charge, his staff, and SDRF personnel promptly rushed to the scene. After three hours of rescue operations, five bodies were recovered from the debris.”
The flood-affected districts span Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Hojai, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Udalguri, Darrang, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Goalpara, Nagaon, Chirang, and Kokrajhar.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Assam cabinet convened on Wednesday to assess the flood situation. The Assam Education Minister informed the media that agencies like the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on high alert. Additionally, the state is coordinating with neighbouring countries like Bhutan and states such as Arunachal Pradesh to share hydrological data for better management and response.
Transportation has also been severely disrupted, with multiple landslides along National Highway 6 bringing traffic to a standstill. Efforts are underway to clear the highway and restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya is also grappling with the consequences of incessant rainfall. In East Jaintia Hills, continuous downpours over the past few days have triggered several landslides and roadblocks, further complicating the region’s infrastructure and mobility challenges.
The dual calamities of flooding and landslides underscore the pressing need for robust disaster management and infrastructure resilience in these regions. As the monsoon season progresses, authorities are urged to intensify their preparedness and response measures to mitigate further loss and hardship.
