Flood fury in Assam linked to torrential rain in Naga Hills

Unprecedented heavy rainfall in neighbouring Nagaland, which has been facing a probable ecological imbalance over the years because of various developmental activities, has created massive floods in downstream Assam for several days. The blame has been placed not only on heavy monsoon rainfall but also on the large-scale deforestation encouraged by ongoing legal and illegal coal mining activities in the Naga Hills, which have silently altered the hydrology of rivers in eastern Assam.

Once densely forested areas that functioned as water-absorbing landscapes with relatively stable ecology, the Naga hills have gradually turned into barren terrain that cannot retain rainwater for long, resulting in rapid flows of muddy water into the valleys of Assam. The result has been the current wave of floods, primarily in the eastern districts of the state. The latest flooding has claimed the lives of at least 61 people, including several minors, till Saturday, while many others remain missing. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Sivasagar emerged as the worst-hit district, followed by Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Hojai, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Kamrup and Kamrup (Metropolitan).

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The floods affected nearly 7.45 lakh people across about 935 villages, damaged around 50,000 hectares of cropland, and swept away more than 1.25 lakh domestic animals, including poultry. More than 250 flood relief camps and several relief distribution centres have been set up by the respective district administrations. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army and the Air Force, along with officials of the local administration and volunteers, have been carrying out round-the-clock rescue and relief operations.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma specifically directed state ministers Bimal Bora, Sushanta Borgohain, Pijush Hazarika, Keshab Mahanta and Ajanta Neog to oversee operations on the ground. However, thousands of affected families are still deprived of essential relief materials, including drinking water and healthcare support, as extensive damage has been reported to embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Nagaland and Assam experienced incessant and intense rainfall between 18 and 20 July, while rainwater from the Naga districts of Mon, Mokokchung, Longleng and Wokha flowed downstream carrying heavy loads of debris. Mon district, which recorded as much as 137 mm of rainfall, witnessed the deaths of nine people in landslides on Monday. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reviewed the flood situation with senior officials and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 70 lakh for the victims’ families. Many rivers originating in the Naga Hills triggered unprecedented inundation in adjoining villages of Assam.

Subsequently, the release of water from the NEEPCO-operated Doyang Hydroelectric Project in Nagaland further worsened the situation downstream. Initially, it was believed that a cloudburst had occurred in the hilly terrain of Nagaland, causing havoc in the plains of Assam. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) dismissed such reports. Officials clarified that the event did not qualify as a cloudburst, which requires at least 100 mm of rainfall within an hour over a small geographical area.

They stated that the recorded daily rainfall in Nagaland and Assam remained below that threshold during the period. Meanwhile, Assam’s lifeline, the Brahmaputra, has been flowing above the danger mark at several locations, while its major tributaries, including the Burhi Dihing, Disang, Dikhou, Dhansiri, Bhogdoi and Kushiyara, continue to remain in spate. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya also chaired a high-level review meeting with office-bearers of the Assam unit of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) at Lok Bhavan to assess the ongoing humanitarian response for flood-affected people across the state.

Stressing the need for a robust and proactive response, Governor Acharya urged the concerned agencies to further streamline their emergency response mechanisms and emphasised preventive measures to address the possible outbreak of water-borne and vector-borne diseases in the post-flood period. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed deep concern over the severe flood situation in eastern Assam and assured all possible support to the state government.

Stating that Assam’s flood situation had been discussed in detail during the recent Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said both the Centre and the Assam government were maintaining close coordination to deal with the crisis. The former Assam Chief Minister also noted that extensive damage had been caused to agricultural land, livestock and commercial establishments. He reiterated that the Central government would continue to extend every possible support for the relief, rehabilitation and recovery of flood-affected people in Assam. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Chief Minister Sarma and assured full support from New Delhi. He informed him that an inter-ministerial central team was being sent to Assam to assess the extent of the damage and determine the Central assistance required for rebuilding livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Sarma chaired a video conference with district commissioners and other senior government officials to review the ongoing response to the crisis. Earlier, he visited several flood-hit areas in Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts to take stock of the situation and interact with affected families. The Assam government has already announced an ex gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives in the floods. However, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi criticised what he described as the government’s inadequate response, alleging poor coordination with neighbouring north-eastern states.

After visiting several flood-affected areas, the Jorhat MP urged the authorities to intensify relief and rehabilitation efforts. The son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also accused the government in Dispur of prioritising the construction of roads and flyovers while neglecting drainage infrastructure and long-term flood management programmes. Sivasagar legislator Akhil Gogoi, after touring several flood-hit areas, called on the government to strengthen disaster preparedness measures. He also alleged that haphazard construction activities, uncontrolled mining and deforestation in Nagaland had aggravated the flood situation in Assam.

(THE WRITER IS A GUWAHATI-BASED SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATESMAN)