Assam Flood Death Toll Rises to 78 as 300,000 People Face Monsoon Crisis

Heavy monsoon rains caused the 2,900-kilometer Brahmaputra River, one of Asia’s largest rivers, to overflow its banks in Assam, submerging large areas and forcing thousands of residents to move into government relief camps.

Charaideo remains the worst-hit district, with 137,561 people affected by the flooding. Sivasagar follows with 84,600 affected people, while Jorhat has reported 49,911 people impacted by the deluge.

The floodwaters have submerged 21,523 hectares of cropland, causing widespread damage to agricultural areas across the affected districts. Nearly 17,000 livestock have been affected, while more than 11,000 animals have been washed away.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday that many residents are unable to return to their homes because their houses have either been damaged or filled with mud and silt. He added that floodwaters have receded in many areas.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the flood situation on Wednesday and assured Assam of federal assistance for relief and restoration efforts, according to media reports.

As rescue and relief operations continue, the India Meteorological Department has issued an alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms from Thursday through Saturday in isolated parts of Assam and the neighboring states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the monsoon session of the Indian Parliament witnessed another stormy day, with opposition lawmakers protesting police action during this month’s ‘Cockroach’ youth-led demonstrations and an embezzlement controversy surrounding the Ram Temple, a flagship project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

With thousands still affected and further rainfall forecast in parts of the region, Assam continues to face a major flood challenge as authorities work on rescue, relief, and restoration measures.