Updated: India – 1.8 Million Now Affected by Floods in Assam, Number of Displaced Increases to 230,000

Update, 29 July 2016

The number of people affected by floods in Assam now stands at almost 1.8 million.

Twenty-two districts have reported flooding. The worst affected districts are Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri, Darrang, Morigaon and Sonitpur.

Authorities have opened 517 Relief Camps and 186 Relief Distribution Centre that are currently accommodating 229,544 displaced people.

ASDMA say that relief has been distributed as per requirement in all the flood affected districts. NDRF, SDRF and Indian Army are helping the district administration in evacuating the affected population to safe places.

Local media in India are now reporting that the number of flood-related deaths in the current flood wave in Assam has risen to 18. At least 5 people died in the last 24 hours: 3 died in Barpeta district, one in Dhemaji and one in Kokrajhar.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday made an aerial survey of the flood situation in the state and visited affected villages in Majuli, Lakhimpur and Jorhat.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit areas of Assam, 28 July, 2016. Photo: Office of the Chief Minister, Assam
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit areas of Assam, 28 July, 2016. Photo: Office of the Chief Minister, Assam
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit areas of Assam, 28 July, 2016. Photo: Office of the Chief Minister, Assam
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit areas of Assam, 28 July, 2016. Photo: Office of the Chief Minister, Assam

Original Report, 27 July 2016

The flood situation in Assam, India, has deteriorated since 25 July, when 600,000 were affected.

Flooding has been reported in the district of Nalbari over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of districts affected to nineteen: Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Sivsagar, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Nagoan, Dibrurgarh, Chirang, Goalpara, Tinsukia, Dhubri, Morigaon, Sontipur, Biswanath, Darrang and Nalbari.

The number of affected people has also increased over the last 24 hours, with more than 1.2 million in the state now living with floods. The number of fatalities remains at seven since the current wave of flooding began in early July.

Just under 130,000 people are currently displaced and staying in 220 relief camps set up by disaster management authorities. In addition, 130 relief distribution centres have also been set.

Orange Alerts for River Levels

India’s Central Water Commission have issued orange level alerts (mid level) for rivers at three locations in the state. Orange level is issued when the river is flowing above danger level, and within 0.5 metres of high flood stage.

The Sankosh river at Golokganj, Dhubri district is at 30.77 metres. The highest recorded level at Golokganj is 30.95 metres from September 2007. The Beki River at Beki Road bridge, Barpeta district is at 45.82 metres and the Brahmaputra River at Tezpur, Sonitpur at 66.22 metres – both well above danger level.

Flood Summary

Last updated: August 15, 2016
Event
Assam, India, July to August 2016
Date
July 1 to August 4, 2016
Type
Landslide, River flood
Cause
Extreme rainfall, Long-term rainfall
After several days of heavy rain from 01 July 2016, thousands of people and hectares of crop land have been affected by recent flooding, according to Assam State Disaster Management Agency (ASDMA). The situation improved and the numbers affected greatly reduced from 04 August.

Locations

A - Lakhimpur
B - Golaghat
C - Morigaon
D - Barpeta
E - Jorhat
F - Biswanath
G - Sivsagar

Magnitude

River level
Overflowing
Brahmaputra River - July 5 to July 6, 2016
India’s Central Water Commission (CWC) reported on 05 July that the Brahmaputra River is flowing close to or above danger levels in around 16 locations, including Goalpara and Tezpur.
River level
30.77 metres
Sankosh at Golokganj, Dhubri - July 27 to July 27, 2016
Orange level alert from CWC (orange level is issued when the river level is flowing within 0.5 m of High Flood. Highest recorded level of the Sankosh at Golokganj is 30.95 metres in September 2007
River level
45.82 metres
Beki River at Beki Road bridge, Barpeta - July 27 to July 27, 2016
Orange alert
River level
66.22 metres
Brahmaputra River at Tezpur, Sonitpur - July 27 to July 27, 2016
Orange alert

Damages

Affected
1,794,554
July 1 to July 29, 2016
Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Sivsagar, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Nagoan, Dibrurgarh, Chirang, Goalpara, Tinsukia, Dhubri, Morigaon, Sontipur, Biswanath, Darrang and Nalbari. Figure as of 29 July. The numbers affected greatly reduced from 04 August.
Fatalities
34 people
1 person swept away by flood water in Morigaon district, according to local media. on 14 July, ASDMA reported 2 deaths in separate landslides in Kamrup district. On 24 July, ADSMA reported another fatality in North Lakhimpur. As of 25 July, local media say the death toll stood at 7. By 29 July, the figure had increased to 18. on 28 July alone, 3 died in Barpeta district, one in Dhemaji and one in Kokrajhar. By 01 August, local media reported the figure to be 34
Buildings destroyed
868 buildings
July 1 to July 26, 2016
Figures as of 26 July. 867 houses damaged were in Jorhat, the other in Chirang.
Evacuated
229,544
July 1 to July 29, 2016
As of 29 July, 517 relief camps and 186 relief distribution centres. By 04 August the number of displaced had fallen to 18,708.
Additional
402 wild animals
July 26 to August 2, 2016
Kaziranga National Park said 402 animals, including 32 rhinos and 342 deer, died in the recent floods During the floods, a total of 107 animals were also rescued. Among the rescued were nine rhinos and 94 deer.