The Army on Monday joined rescue operations while the Indian Air Force and Central Forces were on alert as the flood situation deteriorated in Assam following incessant rainfall over the past four days.
The India Meteorological Department said thunderstorms and rain were expected in most parts of Assam on Monday. Heavy rains were expected in Golaghat, Sivasagar, Charadeo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. The intensity of rain is expected to decrease starting Wednesday. Low to moderate flood alerts have been issued for Sivasagar, Charadeo, Jorhat, Golaghat, Chirang, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said 580 villages were affected and more than 10,362 hectares of crops remained submerged across Biswanath, Cachar, Charadeo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri.
Charadeo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat were the worst affected areas, where rivers burst dams, submerged highways and cut vital railway lines.
Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government has sought help from the Indian Army and Air Force as the flood situation continues to worsen in Sivasagar, Charadeo and Jorhat. The ministers were directed to rush to the flood-affected areas to supervise relief distribution and coordinate rescue. Sarma said the government was committed to quickly providing relief to those affected by the floods and the situation was being closely monitored.
The Gangi River breached a dam near Nora Kunwar Billung, flooding nearby villages and sweeping away homes, ASDMA said. In Amguri, floodwaters inundated local markets, schools and a temporary civilian hospital, paralyzing emergency services. In Teok, nearly 12 km of the four-lane highway between Jorhat and Ganji was submerged. The Dikau river washed away a kilometer of road in Nazira and damaged the railway line connecting Dibrugarh to Tinsukia. In Golaghat, rising water from the Kalyoni river entered parts of the Numaligarh refinery.
Tenali Zoo, Hatigaon, Panjabari, Beltola Tenali, Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar in Guwahati were flooded. ASDMA said dewatering pumps have been deployed to control the situation.
Sonari in Charadeo recorded 197.5 mm of rainfall between July 18 and 20. Kokormara-Mirza in Kamrup recorded 165.5 mm of rainfall, followed by Bokakhat in Golaghat (130.5 mm), Guwahati (124.5 mm), and Mariani in Jorhat (122 mm).
The Central Water Commission said the Brahmaputra, Burhidehenge, Dikau, Disang and Dhansiri rivers are flowing above the danger level. Heavy rains in neighboring Mizoram have led to rising water levels in rivers in Cachar and Sribhumi.
The floods disrupted railway services. Railway tracks were damaged at several locations in upper Assam. A section of the railway line between Mariani and Simaluguri was flooded.
The North Eastern Frontier Railway said it had to divert several long-distance trains. Help desks have been established in all affected stations. Food and drinking water have been arranged for the passengers and tickets are being refunded. Buses and other vehicles have been arranged at Namtiali to take passengers to Sibsagar city railway station. From there, a special train will take passengers to Dibrugarh and New Tinsukia.
The railways said 217 passengers, who were derailed by the Vivek Express train at Selingat, are being transported by road to Mariani. Necessary arrangements have been made for 570 passengers on the Kamrup Express and 490 passengers on the Amritsar-Tinsukia Express after their halt at Mariani station, they added.
Trains, including the Howrah-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express, Amritsar-New Tinsukia Express and New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, were halted for a short period. Commuter and intercity services, including the Ledo-Guwahati Intercity Express, have been cancelled.
