Assam’s flood crisis deepened further on Monday as four days of heavy to very heavy rainfall pushed five major rivers above danger levels, leaving more than 1.70 lakh people affected across 12 districts and prompting the state government to place the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force on standby for rescue operations.
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Dikhow river in Sivasagar district is flowing above its Highest Flood Level (HFL). The Brahmaputra at Neamatighat in Jorhat, the Burhidihing at Khowang in Dibrugarh, the Disang at Nanglamuraghat in Sivasagar, and the Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat are all flowing above the danger mark as continuous rainfall swelled water levels across eastern Assam.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government has requested the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to remain on standby as the flood situation in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat continues to worsen. In a post on X, the Chief Minister said, **”The safety of our people is our highest priority. We have requested the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to remain on standby to support evacuation and rescue operations. Our government will take every necessary step to protect lives and provide all possible relief.”**
The Chief Minister also directed four Cabinet ministers: Ajanta Neog, Bimal Borah, Keshab Mahanta and Susanta Borgohain to immediately visit the affected districts and supervise rescue and relief operations on the ground.
The flood situation also turned fatal during the last 24 hours. Officials confirmed that one person drowned in floodwaters at Amguri in Sivasagar district, taking this year’s flood-related death toll in Assam to five.
To strengthen rescue efforts, the Indian Army launched **”Operation Jal Rahat”** in flood-hit eastern Assam. Multiple Army and Assam Rifles teams have been deployed in Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts to evacuate stranded residents. A senior official said Army personnel, working alongside the civil administration and disaster response agencies, have already rescued several stranded people and are continuing evacuation and relief operations.
Heavy rain also brought Guwahati to a standstill on Monday morning as several parts of Kamrup (Metro) district remained under water. Urban flooding was reported from Zoo Tiniali, Sonkuchi, Beharbari, Panjabari, Hatigaon, Beltola Tiniali, Anil Nagar, Chandmari and Maligaon. Authorities deployed dewatering pumps at Anil Nagar, Rukminigaon, Rajgarh Road and Lachit Nagar to clear accumulated water.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), around 1.70 lakh people have been affected across Biswanath, Cachar, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Karbi Anglong, Sivasagar, Udalguri and Jorhat districts. The current wave of flooding has affected 580 villages under 30 revenue circles, while 10,362.9 hectares of agricultural land remain inundated.
Rescue operations have been intensified across the affected districts. Six teams of the 12th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 186 personnel and 24 boats, have been deployed in Sivasagar and Charaideo. Two teams of the 1st Battalion NDRF, with 60 personnel and 10 boats, are carrying out rescue operations in Jorhat. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams from other districts have also been mobilised for rescue operations in Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across most parts of Assam through Monday. The eastern districts of Golaghat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall.
