Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the recent severe floods in several districts were a result of heavy rainfall in Upper Assam and neighboring Nagaland districts like Mon, Mokokchung, and Wokha, causing a significant influx of water into the state.
The affected areas experienced rainfall well above the seasonal average, leading to one of the worst flood situations in years in regions not typically prone to such extensive flooding. Chief Minister Sarma highlighted that the floods in Charaideo and Sivasagar were triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall in these districts as well as in Nagaland’s Mon, Mokokchung, and Wokha districts.
Rainfall levels in the affected regions were recorded at 435 to 490 percent above normal, creating an unprecedented weather event that overwhelmed rivers, streams, and drainage channels from the Nagaland hills into Assam. The unique topography of Upper Assam, according to Chief Minister Sarma, makes districts like Charaideo and Sivasagar particularly susceptible to sudden runoff during intense rainfall episodes.
“The situation is critical, with significant portions of Charaideo and Sivasagar still submerged, and about 20 to 25 percent of the affected areas inaccessible due to damaged infrastructure,” he mentioned. The Chief Minister reported that the floods have claimed 31 lives in the two districts, with 21 in Sivasagar and 10 in Charaideo, while seven individuals remain missing.
