The Indian Army has launched ‘Operation Jal Rahat’ to assist the Assam government in large-scale rescue and relief operations as worsening floods continue to affect several parts of eastern Assam, impacting thousands of people across seven districts, officials said on Monday.
Army and Assam Rifles columns have been deployed in the worst-hit districts of Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat, where floodwaters have submerged vast areas, cut off villages and disrupted normal life, a senior official said.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been kept on standby to provide aerial assistance if the flood situation worsens.
Officials said Army personnel, working in coordination with the civil administration and disaster response agencies, have rescued several stranded residents from inundated areas and are continuing evacuation and relief operations.
The floods have also disrupted transport infrastructure, with railway services affected after floodwaters damaged and washed away portions of railway embankments. At least two breaches have been reported. Road connectivity has also been affected in several low-lying areas, while numerous villages remain submerged.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has deputed state ministers Bimal Bora and Susanta Borgohain to the affected districts to oversee rescue operations and assess the ground situation.
The state government has directed senior ministers and officials to remain in constant contact with district administrations to ensure the timely distribution of relief materials and rehabilitation assistance.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the flood situation deteriorated significantly on Sunday, with one death reported in Sivasagar district.
ASDMA data showed that more than 57,100 people have been affected across Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts, up sharply from around 24,000 a day earlier.
Charaideo remains the worst-affected district, with nearly 24,000 people impacted, followed by Dhemaji with over 22,000 affected residents. More than 4,000 people have been affected in Dibrugarh, while flooding has also impacted parts of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri.
Rescue teams continue evacuation and relief operations as authorities monitor the evolving flood situation amid forecasts of further rainfall across the region.
(With IANS inputs)
