What happened
Flooding in Assam has intensified into a large-scale disaster, leaving 47 people dead and affecting more than 7 lakh people across the state. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority reported that 883 villages remained submerged and 24,124 people were staying in 103 relief camps.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma linked the destruction to upstream cloudbursts in adjoining Nagaland and heavy local rainfall that was far above normal. The state administration said rescue and relief operations were under way with support from the Indian Air Force, the National Disaster Response Force, and state agencies.
Background and earlier position
Assam faces recurring flood risk because of its river system, monsoon rainfall, and low-lying floodplains. The current flood episode is notable because districts such as Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat are being hit hard despite not having a long history of severe flooding.
What changed now
Related current affairs
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- ‘Whole village went under water’: Assam grapples with floods, 21 dead in 24 hours
- Assam floods: five dead as thousands evacuated