Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said rainfall exceeding 400 per cent above normal caused widespread floods across the state, affecting nearly 11 lakh people in more than 2,000 villages and prompting an intensified relief and rescue operation.
Key Takeaways
- Assam CM says 400% excess rainfall caused the floods, not river overflow.
- Around 11 lakh people have been affected across over 2,000 villages.
- More than 41,000 people are staying in 162 relief camps.
- State government has released over ₹111 crore for flood relief.
- Army and Air Force support may be expanded for marooned villages.
- A Central team will soon assess flood damage in Assam.
Agartala/Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday attributed the ongoing flood crisis to exceptionally heavy rainfall rather than the state’s usual riverine flooding. He said the rainfall during the current spell crossed 400 per cent above normal, creating an unprecedented disaster across several districts.
Speaking after a high-level review meeting with senior government officials and deputy commissioners from flood-affected districts, Sarma said the scale of destruction has been far greater than in a conventional flood season.
He said the administration continues to expand rescue and relief operations as thousands of families remain displaced.
CM links flood crisis to record rainfall
Sarma stressed that the present situation differs from the floods Assam witnesses almost every year.
“This was not a conventional river flood. The disaster resulted from rainfall exceeding 400 per cent above normal. That sudden and intense rainfall caused widespread devastation,” he said.
The Chief Minister described the situation as serious and said the state government has mobilised all available resources to deal with the emergency.
His remarks come as several districts continue to face inundation, damaged infrastructure and disrupted communication.
Nearly 11 lakh people affected across Assam
According to the Chief Minister, the floods have affected nearly 11 lakh people living in more than 2,000 villages across the state.
Large stretches of agricultural land remain submerged. Roads have suffered extensive damage in many districts. Waterlogging has also affected several towns, disrupting transport and essential services.
The state government has deployed ministers in flood-hit districts to supervise relief work and maintain close coordination with district administrations.
Sarma said he would personally visit the worst-affected areas over the next two to three days to review relief operations and assess the ground situation.
Relief camps shelter over 41,000 displaced people
The state government has established 162 relief camps where more than 41,000 displaced people are currently taking shelter.
Authorities have accelerated the distribution of food and essential supplies across affected districts.
According to official figures, the government has already distributed more than 14,000 quintals of rice, 2,000 quintals of pulses and 58,820 litres of mustard oil. Relief teams are also supplying drinking water, medicines and other essential items to flood-hit communities.
Officials said relief distribution will continue until normal conditions return.
Government releases over ₹111 crore for relief
To strengthen rescue and rehabilitation efforts, the Assam government has released more than ₹111 crore to district administrations.
Sarma said district authorities will receive additional funds wherever necessary to ensure uninterrupted relief operations.
The government has instructed local administrations to prioritise rescue, food distribution and restoration of essential public services.
Health teams remain on alert
The Chief Minister directed officials to remain vigilant as several rivers continue to flow above or close to the danger mark.
He said mobile medical teams from the Health Department and the Animal Husbandry Department have reached affected areas to prevent disease outbreaks and provide treatment to both residents and livestock.
Floods often increase the risk of waterborne diseases and livestock infections. The government aims to minimise those risks through early medical intervention.
Army, Air Force support under consideration
Sarma said he would hold discussions with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to improve access to marooned villages.
He said aerial distribution of relief materials may be expanded in areas that remain cut off due to floodwaters.
Such coordination would help speed up rescue efforts and ensure essential supplies reach remote locations without delay.
Central team to assess flood damage
The Chief Minister also announced that a Central assessment team will soon visit Assam to evaluate the extent of flood damage.
Meanwhile, state assessment teams have started preparing for digital damage reporting through a dedicated mobile application. The new system will enable officials to upload real-time information on losses, helping speed up compensation and rehabilitation planning.
The digital assessment mechanism is expected to improve transparency and allow quicker decision-making during the recovery phase.
Government assures support for affected families
Expressing confidence in Assam’s ability to recover from the disaster, Sarma said the state would overcome the crisis with support from the Central government.
He assured that every affected family would receive assistance to rebuild homes and restore livelihoods after the floodwaters recede.
As rescue operations continue, the government remains focused on protecting lives, delivering relief supplies and restoring normalcy across flood-affected districts. The coming days will be crucial as authorities monitor rainfall, river levels and the condition of marooned communities while expanding relief efforts wherever needed.
