The flood situation in Assam’s Barpeta district remains critical, with more than 135,000 people impacted by rising waters. The disaster has submerged 1,435.6 hectares of cropland and affected 152 villages across four revenue circles: Kalgachia, Barpeta, Chenga, and Baghbar.
In the Chenga Assembly Constituency alone, at least 60 villages and char areas (riverine islands) are grappling with severe flooding. Many residents have been forced to seek refuge on higher ground, living alongside their livestock as floodwaters inundate their homes.
Rojana Ahmed, a flood victim from Chenimari Balitari char area, said, “For the past week, we’ve been surrounded by water. All our household goods and important documents have been damaged. We’re facing food and drinking water shortages, and boats are our only means of transport.”
The district administration has established 24 relief camps and distribution centers in flood-affected areas. However, some residents claim the assistance provided is insufficient. Jahangir Alam, another flood victim, reported that people are resorting to drinking river water due to the lack of clean water supplies.
The flooding has hit the agricultural community particularly hard. Jakir Dewan, a villager from Chenimari Char, explained, “Most villagers here work in farming, and they rely solely on it. But the flood has submerged all crop areas, causing massive losses.”
This local crisis is part of a larger flood emergency affecting Assam. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports that approximately 2.11 million people across 29 districts have been impacted by this second wave of flooding. The death toll has risen to 52, with six fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.
Over 386,000 people have sought shelter in 515 relief camps across 24 flood-hit districts. The deluge has also affected more than 1.12 million animals, including wildlife. In Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, 31 wild animals have perished due to the floods.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said that 11,20,165 animals were also affected by the deluge.The number of affected villages has risen to 3,208 while devastating floodwaters have resulted in the death of 31 wild animals in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP), the field director of KNP said.
(Inputs from ANI)