GUWAHATI, July 27 — Assam is battling one of its worst flood spells in recent years, with the death toll climbing past 66 over the last week and more than 30 lakh people affected across 31 districts, according to figures from the state disaster management authority.
The Brahmaputra and its tributaries have breached danger marks at multiple points, submerging villages, farmland and stretches of national highway. Relief camps have been set up in the worst-hit districts, and the Army, NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed for evacuation and rescue work in low-lying pockets that are still cut off by road.
Officials said the scale of displacement this year has strained relief infrastructure, with many families sheltering on embankments and elevated ground after losing homes and standing crops. The state government has sought additional central assistance to cope with the damage to roads, embankments and irrigation systems, and has flagged erosion along the Brahmaputra as a recurring long-term concern.
Chief Minister-led review meetings have continued through the week, with officials directing district administrations to fast-track compensation payouts and keep essential supply chains open in flood-hit areas. Weather authorities have not ruled out further spells of heavy rain over the coming days, which could complicate the relief effort further.
For competitive exam aspirants, the Assam floods are relevant both as a current affairs item and as a recurring geography and disaster-management topic — questions on flood-prone river systems, the Brahmaputra basin and disaster response agencies (NDRF, SDRF) turn up frequently in general awareness sections.