Gauhati University has constituted a multidisciplinary research team to undertake a scientific study into the causal factors behind the July 19, 2026 floods and their cascading downstream impacts across parts of Upper Assam.
The newly constituted research team will now focus on generating scientific evidence on the factors behind the July 19 floods and their downstream impacts. The team will be led by Prof. B.N. Goswami, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee, former Director of IITM, Pune, Professor of Excellence and ANRF PM Professor at Gauhati University, with Prof. Parag Phukon, Department of Geological Sciences and Prof. Ratul Mahanta, Department of Economics as members, while Prof. Utpal Sarma, Registrar, Gauhati University, will serve as Member and Coordinator.
The team, along with their respective research groups, will initiate the study immediately. It may also co-opt additional experts and research groups as required.
The Office of the Registrar will provide logistical support for fieldwork and institutional visits and facilitate coordination with government departments and district administrations.
The initiative is the latest in a series of measures undertaken by the University in response to the floods.
Earlier this month, Gauhati University contribued Rs 25 lakh for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for flood-affected people. A University delegation led by Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, VC, handed over the cheque to Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 9.
The University has also extended direct relief support to affected communities, including relief materials for 500 flood-affected families in Sivasagar and Charaideo and 5,000 educational kits for affected areas.
Beyond immediate relief, the University undertook a special conservation effort to rescue and restore handwritten Vaishnavite manuscripts written on sanchipat, including manuscripts dating back to the early 18th century that were at risk of permanent damage from prolonged exposure to floodwater and fungal growth.
The latest initiative marks a shift from immediate response to evidence-based understanding of flood risks, with the University bringing together expertise across disciplines to study the disaster and its wider consequences.