Flooding continues across Assam as rivers stay above danger levels

Flooding continued across large parts of Assam on Tuesday morning, with one more death reported in Upper Assam and the state's flood death toll this year rising to 11. The worst-affected districts include Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo, where officials said water levels remained unusually high after heavy rain since Sunday. Rivers in several locations were still flowing above danger levels, adding to the pressure on local communities and emergency services.

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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the situation in Upper Assam as "unprecedented flooding" and said water levels in the area were "unseen in half a century". As of 8 am on Tuesday, five rivers were still above danger levels: the Brahmaputra at Neamatighat, the Burhidihing at Khowang, the Dikhow in Sivasagar, the Disang at Nganglamuraghat, and the Dhansiri at Golaghat and Numaligarh. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said 3.1 lakh people had been affected by the floods, while 12,720 people were staying in 52 relief camps.

The scale of displacement has been significant, with 9,160 people evacuated by boat as floodwaters spread through low-lying areas. Officials also said 14,411 hectares of crop land had been submerged, raising concerns about agricultural losses in a state where farming is a major source of livelihood. Landslides were reported in five parts of Guwahati on Monday evening, although an ASDMA official said there were no additional incidents on Tuesday.

The flooding has also disrupted transport, particularly around Simalguri town in Sivasagar district, where railway tracks were inundated and train cancellations affected passengers. The Railways announced special trains to help stranded travellers, underlining the wider impact of the disaster beyond the immediate flood zone. Such disruptions can complicate relief work, delay movement of supplies and isolate communities already dealing with rising water.

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Assam is regularly exposed to flooding because of its river system and monsoon rainfall, but the current situation has been described by state officials as unusually severe. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are central to life and livelihoods across the region, which means prolonged high water levels can quickly affect housing, roads, crops and public services. The latest figures suggest the emergency remains active across multiple districts rather than being confined to a single locality.

What remains unclear is how quickly river levels will fall if rainfall eases, and whether further deaths or displacement will be reported as assessments continue. Authorities are still monitoring the affected districts, relief camps and transport links, while evacuation and rescue efforts remain under way. The next key indicators will be changes in river levels, the number of people needing shelter, and the extent of damage to crops and infrastructure.

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