The first wave of monsoon floods has affected more than 22,000 people across six districts of Assam following continuous heavy rainfall in the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
Official data released by ASDMA stated that 22,124 people have been affected in Dhemaji, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar districts. Among them, Dhemaji remains the worst-hit district, with 15,483 people affected by rising floodwaters.
The floods have inundated 96 villages and damaged nearly 1,690 hectares of agricultural land, causing extensive losses to crops and property. In addition, 48,199 livestock have also been impacted during the current flood wave.
Authorities are closely monitoring the water levels of major rivers. The Disang River in Sivasagar district is flowing above the danger mark at Nanglamuraghat, raising concerns of further flooding in low-lying areas.
Floodwaters and riverbank erosion have also caused significant infrastructure damage. A railway bridge over the Simen River in Dhemaji district partially collapsed after heavy rainfall exceeding 110 mm triggered severe erosion.
According to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), train services between Archipathar and Simen Chapari stations have been suspended as a precaution. Railway officials said the bridge, originally built in 1965 and later converted to broad gauge, remained structurally sound, but continuous erosion washed away a large portion of the riverbank, destabilising one of its piers.
Meanwhile, flash floods triggered by incessant rainfall and a sudden rise in the water level of the Dikari River have created a critical situation in Assam’s Jonai subdivision.
More than 15 people have been stranded on Koraibari Char in the Telam area since Sunday morning after floodwaters surrounded the river island from all sides. Nearly 100 cattle are also trapped on the char, raising fears of heavy livestock losses if rescue operations are delayed.
Floodwaters have submerged houses, roads and agricultural fields across several parts of Jonai, forcing many families to move to safer locations.
Following appeals from local residents, the Jonai administration has initiated arrangements to deploy teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). However, the stranded residents were still awaiting evacuation at the time of reporting.
The district administration has urged people living in flood-prone and low-lying areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary movement as heavy rainfall continues across the region.