Recent flooding in Assam, north eastern India, has worsened, with disaster authorities reporting that over 900,000 people are now affected.
This is the second wave of flooding in the state, which began around 20 June when over 16,000 people were affected in the districts of in Barpeta, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Jorhat and Sivasagar.
Flooding has continued to worsen since then and, as of 28 June, 926,059 people in 2,071 villages across 23 districts have been affected, according to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
According to India’s Central Water Commission, river levels are at “Severe Flood Situation” (warning level 2 of 3) in 14 locations across the state, including the Beki river in Barpeta district, which stood at 45.37 metres on 28 June, above the danger mark of 45.1 metres.
Barpeta in currently the worst hit district, with 135,415 people affected. Other hard hit areas include Dhemaji, Nalbari, Morigaon and Goalpara districts, all with around 90,000 residents affected. The Brahmaputra river at Goalpara stood at 36.64 metres as of 28 June, above the danger mark of 36.27 metres.
Furthermore, 27,308 people have been displaced from their homes and are staying in 193 relief centres, including 4889 people in 72 centres in Dibrugarh district and 19,689 in 83 camps in Tinsukia district. As many as 9,303 people have been rescued from flooded areas by disaster response teams.
ASDMA reported fatalities in Dhemaji (1) and Udalguri (1) on 28 June as a result of flooding. One person died in a landslide in Guwahati. According to local media, a total of 43 people have died in floods and landslides in the state since 22 May, including 21 people who died in landslides in Cachar district on 02 June.
