Why does Assam flood every year? It's not just the rain, expert says
Assam's annual floods are driven by a combination of natural geography and human activities.

National · 147 updates
Assam's annual floods are driven by a combination of natural geography and human activities.
The worst-hit districts in Assam include Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat.
Low to moderate flood alerts have been issued for Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat, Chirang, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
As of Monday afternoon, all four family members remained missing.
Railway authorities cancelled, diverted, or short-terminated several passenger train services in Assam. At least 25 people have been killed across four States since the last week of June
The death count in this year's floods in Assam has risen to 10.
An official update says 3.11 lakh people remain affected across 11 districts, down from 16 on July 20
The floodwaters spreading across Assam this week have killed almost a dozen people, displaced over 3.63 lakh and inundated 15 districts.
They said rescuers moved village by village to evacuate children, elderly residents.
21 killed in a day as flood situation worsens in Assam; 5.4 lakh people affected in 16 districts
The situation worsened on July 21 after a brief let-up, affecting 5.65 lakh people across 16 districts
The Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, Assam Rifles and Fire and Emergency Services have been deployed across for large-scale rescue and relief operations.
Rescue teams are facing major challenges as many villages remain cut off by floodwaters.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the damage is far greater than anticipated and more bodies are being recovered from the affected districts; more rains forecast over next four days
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the damage is far greater than anticipated and more bodies are being recovered from the affected districts; more rains forecast over next four days
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) 10 deaths were reported on Wednesday taking the toll in the state to 41.
Assam chief secy reviews flood situation, asks all depts to expedite relief work
100 people remain missing in three worst-affected districts, Assam CM Himanta Sarma said
Report says 35 revenue circles and 889 villages in the 10 districts are affected; a crop area of 24891.66 hectares also remains submerged
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says localised heavy rainfall 436% above normal and cloudbursts upstream in Nagaland combined to cause the unprecedented devastation
Assam floods impact 7.21 lakh people.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), four of the deaths were reported from Nazira in Sivasagar district while two from Mohmara in Charaideo district
Earlier on Thursday, ASDMA reported that 10 people, including four children, had died in the floods over the previous 24 hours.
Traditionally, Sivasagar and Charaideo have not faced floods of this magnitude.
According to the state government, the floods have claimed 31 lives so far
Himanta Biswa Sarma says close to 11 lakh people have been affected in more than 2,000 villages of the State
Over 7.2 lakh people across 11 districts have now been affected, with the death toll rising to 47. Sivasagar stands as the worst-hit district, with nearly 3.8 lakh people suffering under the deluge.
Sarma said that more than 1.1 million people across 2,000 villages are suffering and the government is trying to provide adequate support
He (Prime Minister Modi) sought an update on the extent of the devastation, the ongoing relief operations and the challenges we are confronting on the ground, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Officials said the boats will be used to evacuate stranded people, carry relief materials
Assam's flood toll rose to 62, with over 7 lakh people affected, as relief operations continued and waters receded in some areas.
Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with nearly 2.9 lakh people reeling under the deluge, followed by 1.9 lakh people in Charaideo and more than 1.3 lakh people in Jorhat
Experts believe that while the flooding in the two districts was of a mass scale, but the incident is part of a pattern that is being witnessed in several areas of the northeast
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says clothes will be distributed to 4 lakh women and children; State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi says the government has failed the flood victims
Himanta Biswa Sarma urged every BJP worker to extend support to flood-affected families.
Much of Assam has learnt to live with floods, an annual phenomenon, but historically near-untouched Charaideo, Jorhat, and Sivasagar were least expected to become a waterworld
According to the district administration, 30 people have lost their lives in flood-related incidents.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Union and Assam governments to mobilise every available resource for rescue, relief and rehabilitation
The number of affected people was over 5.24 lakh across five districts of the state till Sunday.
Animal protection organisations join hands with the Animal Husbandry Department in conducting medical camps for farmed and companion animals
Assam flood situation improves marginally, over 4.4 lakh still affected
Officials said that Assam's flood situation improved, with the number of affected people decreasing to 4.45 lakh.
Sivasagar resident Mukul Bezbora and his wife Bonti now face an uncertain future with nothing but the clothes on their back and a house filled with silt and debris
"Met MPs from Assam and discussed the prevailing flood situation in various parts of the State. The Centre is working closely with the Assam government in assisting those affected. I pray for everyone's safety and well-being," says Prime Minister
PM reviews Assam floods as toll hits 68, Himanta Sarma thanks him for intervening
Assam Floods: The death count stands at 68.
The waiver applies to cargo carried on Air India Express flights to Guwahati from Delhi.
Assam govt hikes ex gratia for flood victims' kin, relaxes norms for compensation
Leader of the Opposition Wajed Ali Choudhury said the Congress has already provided flood relief in the past few days and the party MLAs will donate one month's salary for the cause
On Monday, six districts had been affected by the deluge, with 4.45 lakh people impacted.
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has urged fans to support flood-affected Assam. She highlighted the severe crisis and the need for immediate relief efforts. Salman Khan also joined the campaign, distributing food packets to affected families. The floods have displaced lakhs and submerged vast agricultural lands. Assam continues to face immense challenges due to the ongoing flood situation.
Assam flood toll rises to 75, govt raises aid for victims' families
Man saves calf during flood in Sivasagar district of Assam
Launches Operation JAL RAHAT III to assist civil authorities in flood relief and rescue operations in districts of Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo
A total of 622 villages have been impacted by severe flooding.
Himanta Sarma also pointed to the recurring floods caused by runoff from the hills of Nagaland.
Assam floods: Amit Shah assures Centre's help as 3 lakh remain affected
Garima Saikia Garg, wife of late Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, has also joined the relief initiative.
The floodwaters have also affected 21,523.08 hectares of crop area across the affected districts.
The relief helps flood-hit students from Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat continue education.
Hiloni Nepali Khuti village in Sivasagar district was destroyed by floods. Torrential rain in Nagaland caused the Dikhow river to overflow its banks. The devastating floodwaters swept away homes and nearly four thousand cattle. Residents are now trying to rebuild their lives with little hope remaining. Many families lost their dairy farming livelihoods to the raging waters.
Relief or scam? Suspicious Assam aid appeals flood social media
The village is among the worst-hit after the Dorika River overflowed
According to the ASDMA's daily flood report, more than 2,12,400 people remained affected in Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts.
Floodwaters have begun receding across parts of Assam but the state remains on high alert.
Himanta Sarma unveiled a comprehensive relief package for people affected by the recent floods.
Gautam Adani is also mobilising additional resources to support relief operations.
The dog survived and is still with the family.
Railway engineers and workers are struggling hard to restore the devastated Railway tracks.
The flood situation has improved since Thursday (July 30, 2026), when more than two lakh people in eight districts were affected
The relief effort covers 14 villages in Nazira.
The floods have affected Golaghat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Bajali, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Jorhat districts
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says flood-hit families are returning home as the government launches a time-bound rehabilitation plan amid a death toll of 82.
Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with over 55,000 people affected, followed by 40,000 people in Charaideo and 22,000 in Jorhat
Assam flood death toll reaches 85, govt begins Rs 75,000 relief payouts
CM Sarma said that an assessment on the permanent damages incurred due to flooding will be carried out from next week and completed in ten days
He said the government was now preparing for long-term reconstruction in villages.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its report, said both the deaths were reported from the worst-hit Sivasagar district
Himanta Sarma on Monday visited flood-ravaged Nepalikhuti area of Bihubar under the Nazira constituency.
There is no illegal mining in Assam, says CM Sarma; govt. will begin assessing the damage from August 9 as the death toll mounts to 87; however, Nagaland-based organisations trash the theory
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat district continued to flow in a "severe flood situation" on Wednesday (August 5) morning
Nadda, accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, toured the Nepalikhuti area along the Assam-Nagaland border, one of the worst-hit regions in the latest wave of floods that struck on July 19
Union Minister JP Nadda and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Sivasagar district.
After Sivasagar, the highest number of flood deaths was recorded in Charaideo
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers aided over forty thousand families in Assam's flood-hit regions. They provided rescue, food, and essential supplies to affected villagers in three districts. Medical camps were organized by the organization in collaboration with the National Medicos Organization. Volunteers also assisted with post-flood rehabilitation, including cleaning and agricultural support. These efforts focused on helping communities recover after the recent devastating floods.
Assam floods death toll reaches 95 as 1.6 lakh affected in 14 districts
The leader met the grieving parents and consoled them. (File photo)
Hridip was swept away after he saved the puppy, which was struggling to stay afloat
Hundreds of families in the village have lost their homes and belongings, while most livestock have perished.
There are allegations that illegal mining activities in Nagaland contributed to the devastating floods in parts of Assam, claiming 95 lives so far
The flood crisis in Assam has reached alarming levels, with 97 fatalities reported. More than 1.68 lakh individuals are struggling across fifteen districts, particularly in Golaghat, where close to 54,000 inhabitants have been affected. The flooding has submerged 481 villages and severely damaged vital agricultural land. In response to this disaster, Jharkhand has pledged Rs 3 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to aid recovery.
Assam floods spur tech-led relief efforts as AI and community platforms connect flood-hit people with volunteers, NGOs and relief providers to coordinate aid.
The administration was operating 55 relief camps, sheltering over 10,000 displaced people. Another 18 relief distribution centres were also functional
Himanta Biswa Sarma says declaring the annual event a national problem would make no difference if it cannot be addressed scientifically
Several celebrities and prominent personalities are supporting Assam's flood relief and rehabilitation efforts. Actors like Kartik Aaryan and Randeep Hooda have made significant contributions. Alia Bhatt and Bhumi Pednekar have appealed for widespread public support. Nita Ambani and Gautam Adani also provided substantial financial assistance. These contributions aim to aid thousands of families affected by the devastating floods.
The survey, which will continue until August 30, will take stock of damages to affected families to provide compensation for loss
Sai spoke to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma over the phone and took stock of the situation arising from the floods
The units developed by the Nagpur-based CSIR-NEERI are expected to make ambient water drinkable at 3,500 litres per hour
Assam flood: Homemaker returns home after 20 days, finds memories destroyed
As many as 456 villages remain inundated.
Most people across Assam’s flood-prone districts know what to expect during six rainy months in a year, but the residents of Sivasagar and Charaideo, two historically safer districts along the Assam-Nagaland border, were not prepared for what hit them following a spell of heavy rainfall from July 18 to 22. The scale of devastation that occurred at an unprecedented speed has increased the challenge of recovering from the shock, with 99 dead and 7.21 lakh people affected, reports Rahul Karmakar
An Assam State Disaster Management Authority official said that several rivers are above their danger mark, threatening new areas, with Golaghat being the worst-hit, affecting nearly 70,000 people
According to the ASDMA's daily flood bulletin, no fresh death was reported and the toll in this year's floods remained at 101
The survey will continue till August 30 and is expected to cover 50,000-60,000 families in the Upper districts, hit hard by the latest floods, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the government will ascertain whether the money reached the State and how it has been utilised
The flood situation in Assam remained serious on August 12, 2026, with more than 1.12 lakh people affected across four districts.
In the memorandum, the Congress said around 40% of Assam's total land area, or 31.05 lakh hectares, is flood-prone, much higher than the national average of 10.2%
It was one of the first initiatives to serve food to flood-affected people in Sivasagar.
Bhutanese king expresses solidarity with Assam flood victims; Himanta thanks him for support
The World Weather Attribution analysis shows no clear evidence that climate change is altering the trend in the intensity or likelihood of rainfall
The government has spent Rs 146.26 crore on the assistance distributed so far.
A month after floods hit Sivasagar and neighbouring Charaideo, the waters have receded, but the disaster is far from over for many survivors. At least 105 died.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma met PM Modi in Delhi to discuss flood recovery, rehabilitation and rebuilding of areas hit by floods that killed 105 people.