Flooding caused by monsoon rainfall continues to affect over 2 million people in north eastern states of India, including Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.
Assam
Assam state has endured this current spate of flooding since late June. By early July over 1.4 million people were affected.
Flooding has continued since then and Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), said the worsening the situation has so far affected over 2.1 million people in 27 of the state’s 33 districts. Over 60,000 people have moved from their homes to take shelter in 480 relief camps. Almost 40,000 of those displaced were in Baksa district.
Six people lost their lives due to flooding on 12 to 13 July. A total of 76 people have now died in floods or landslides in the state since May.
According to India’s Central Water Commission (CWC), rivers in 16 locations in Assam were at “Severe Flood Stage” as of 13 July. The Brahmaputra river at Dhubri stood at 29.78 metres, above the danger level of 28.62 metres. At Tezpur in Sontipur district, the Brahmaputra stood at 66.55 metres, just under the record high of 66.59 metres set in 1998. Danger level here is 65.23 metres.
Bihar
Meanwhile in Bihar, flooding has affected the districts of Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul and Kishanganj.
According to India’s Disaster Management Division, 81,000 people have been affected and 996 evacuated. As of 13 July, 250 were taking shelter in relief camps.
CWC reported rivers in 12 locations in Bihar were at “Severe Flood Stage” as of 13 July. The Kosi river at Baltara in Muzaffarpur district reached 49.47 metres on 13 July, above the danger mark of 48.68 metres. The Bagmati river at Runisaidpur in Sitamarhi stood at 57.2 metres, well above danger mark of 53.73 metres.
Arunachal Pradesh
Heavy rainfall was reported in the state of Arunachal Pradesh on 10 July, triggering landslides in which 8 people died.
According to India’s Disaster Management Division, over 36,000 people have been affected by monsoon rainfall in the state so far this season, with 657 people displaced. Teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to West Kemang and Lower Dibang Valley districts.
West Bengal
CWC report the Raidak River at Tufanganj in Cooch Behar district is at severe flood stage. As of 13 July the river stood at 35.75 metres, above the danger mark of 35.3 metres.
Disaster Management Division reported on 13 July that 130,000 people have been affected by heavy rainfall in West Bengal so far this monsoon season, with over 4,000 displaced.
Social Media
I have raised flood problem both in the Bihar Assembly and Parliament several times but no action has been taken either by the @NitishKumar govt or the central govt.Every year Kishanganj and other parts of Bihar face floods with huge losses. #BiharFlood pic.twitter.com/sRFKxY9Jfn
— Dr Md Jawaid (@DrMdJawaid1) July 12, 2020
#Monsoon2020#Floods2020#TEAMNDRFINDIA #Evacuated 102 marooned people from Vill Hallang Bari & Kathalmuri Ghat, Bajali, Distt-Berpeta, Assam#COMMITTED2SERVE#COMMITTED2HELP#NDRF4U@satyaprad1 @ndmaindia @HMOIndia @ANI pic.twitter.com/ZPOKPbQl2j
— NDRF 🇮🇳 (@NDRFHQ) July 11, 2020
Rescue and relief works by SDRF and #NDRF at flood hit areas in #Assam.
▪️Several major rivers including Brahmaputra flowing above danger level, Over 8.5 lakh people affected due to floods in 20 districts.#AssamFloods pic.twitter.com/ADvT8t7ZKA
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 12, 2020
#RedCross ensures that no one is left behind. Thus, our teams in #Assam are doing all they can to reach remote rural areas & provide dry ration, tarpaulins, mosquito coils, & other essential aid to people impacted by the #AssamFloods.
Thank you volunteers for saving lives 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/rlF5oJ2W1G— Indian Red Cross Society (@IndianRedCross) July 7, 2020