Updated on September 8, 2015: Rain has reduced considerably in Northeast India including Assam. We can now expect some improvement in the flood situation in Assam. Water in the Brahmaputra River remains at the danger level. However, it is not rising now.
On account of rains in the hilly areas of Northeast India, inflow of rain water from other catchment areas to the Brahmaputra River continues. Most of the people in flood-hit Assam have returned to their respective homes from the shelters.
Rainfall will be light and scattered in Northeast India till the time the Monsoon system over Westcentral Bay of Bengal remains active. After about four days, intensity of rainfall will once again increase over the northeastern states.
Updated on September 7, 2015: Incessant floods in Assam have been wreaking havoc on the entire state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the death toll has now reached 42 after five more people were killed on Sunday.
Not only this, heavy rainfall triggered landslides in Unming near Nongpoh and the Byrinhat region, which blocked the roads connecting Guwahati and Shillong. Traffic along the NH 40 was brought to a halt with many vehicles along both sides of the roads, i.e. Assam and Meghalaya, stranded.
The latest flood reports suggest that over 17.67 lakh people have been affected so far. However, according to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, improvement in the flood like situation is likely in the next 24 to 48 hours. But, this break will not be prolonged. The state may experience the same situation after a break of a week or so.
Northeast India continues to receive heavy showers till the first half of October. Many villages in the region are under constant threat of being flooded. The rains also keep coming from the mountainous regions and the catchment areas, which further results in the rise in the water levels of the rivers in Northeast India.
Updated on September 6, 2015: Assam continues to reel under the fury of floods as the death toll has now climbed to 37. The number of affected people also rose to 16.5 lakh spread over some 21 districts.
As per Assam Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one person each died in Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, and Darrang. A total of 2100 villages have been affected so far and standing crops in 1.8 lakh hectare agricultural land has been destroyed.
Indian Army is working in close co-operation with the local civil administration to speed up rescue and relief efforts in the region. Even the low-lying areas of rhino habitat in the Kaziranga National Park have been flooded. This has forced animals in the region to move towards highlands. Even the Army outposts along India-Bangladesh border in Assam has been flooded.
As of now, scattered light to moderate rainfall is expected to continue over parts of Assam and Northeast India. Significant relief can only be expected when the rain stops completely. With repeated spells of rain lashing the region, the flood situation in Assam remains far from under control.
Updated on August 23, 2015: As per reports, the death toll in this year’s Assam floods has climbed to 12 now. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) stated that over 6.55 lakh people have been affected by the floods so far. Some 1,417 villages are reeling under flood waters and incessant rainfall has only worsened the situation in the state.
In the last 24 hours, many parts of Assam received light to moderate rainfall. Mostly single-digit rainfall was recorded across various places in the state. However, Goalpara received 41.6 mm rainfall. The intensity of rainfall in the state is expected to reduce now.
In another 24 hours, rainfall over Assam will reduce further as a low-pressure area is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal. This system will cut off moisture feed to Assam thereby causing a significant reduction in rainfall over the region.
With considerable reduction in rainfall over Assam, some improvement in the flood situation can be expected. Currently, massive efforts aimed at curbing damage to life and property are underway. But a prolonged spell of rain was only causing more problems for relief and rescue teams deployed in the region.
Updated on August 22, 2015: Incessant rains have worsened the flood situation in Assam. The state has been receiving heavy to very heavy rain since the past 3 to 4 days. The rising Brahmaputra River along with its tributaries have resulted in the flooding of around 19 districts. Not only this, 6 people have been reported dead and more than 6 lakh people have been affected due to the flood situation in the state.
Around 1,000 villages have been submerged in water. The grim situation has prompted the Indian army to carry out rescue and relief operations. The army has successfully been able to rescue about 1500 people, which includes infants and children. About 177 relief camps have been set up by the state administration.
Kokrajhar district has been the worst affected district where around 1,000 hectares of crop land is under water. Due to very heavy rains in the catchment areas of Lakhmipur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Kokrajhar, Sonitpur and Chirang districts, the levels of the water bodies have risen alarmingly.
Also, three national parks including Manas, Kaziranga and Dibru Saikhowa have also been affected due to the floods. As per reports, more than 170 anti-poaching camps also came under flood. Not only this, landslides in a few areas have only added to the miseries of the people.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rainfall intensity is likely to reduce. However, high alert for many areas in Assam has been issued as the water bodies are way above the danger levels and the situation will not improve even after the reduction in rain.
In the last 20 hours, most parts of the state have received very little rain. Flood situation in the state will most likely improve after a period of 48 hours. Till then, residents have been advised to exercise caution and high alert remains for Assam.
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