Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota Orders Faster Flood Relief Operations as Death Toll Climbs to 41; Over 6.53 Lakh People Affected Across 11 Districts
As relentless monsoon rains continue to batter Assam, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has directed all government departments to significantly speed up relief distribution, restoration work and emergency response across flood-affected areas. The high-level review comes at a critical time, with the flood situation worsening rapidly across the state, affecting more than 6.53 lakh people in 11 districts and pushing the overall death toll this year to 41.
The senior bureaucrat reviewed the evolving situation with top officials and stressed that every department must work in close coordination to ensure that relief reaches affected families without delay. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting more heavy rainfall over the coming days, the state administration is racing against time to minimise further damage and prevent additional casualties.
The latest review highlights the government’s growing concern over the scale of the disaster, which has disrupted normal life across large parts of Upper and Central Assam. Thousands of families have been displaced, roads have gone underwater, communication has been affected in several areas and public infrastructure has suffered extensive damage.
Chief Secretary Ravi Kota Conducts High-Level Flood Review
Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, a 1993-batch IAS officer, chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the flood response and evaluate the preparedness of various departments engaged in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
According to an official statement issued by the state government, the meeting focused on strengthening ongoing operations in districts that have suffered the maximum impact from continuous rainfall and overflowing rivers.
Among the worst-hit districts reviewed during the meeting were Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat, where floodwaters have inundated villages, damaged roads, affected agricultural land and disrupted daily life.
The Chief Secretary instructed all line departments to accelerate restoration of damaged infrastructure while ensuring that relief operations continue uninterrupted. He emphasised that every agency involved in disaster management must maintain constant coordination so that assistance reaches affected communities as quickly as possible.
Relief Distribution and Essential Services Must Continue Without Interruption
During the review, Ravi Kota underlined that restoring infrastructure alone would not be sufficient. He directed officials to ensure that essential services continue to function in flood-hit regions and that residents living in relief camps receive timely assistance.
Departments have been asked to maintain uninterrupted supplies of food, drinking water, medicines and other relief materials. Officials were also instructed to closely monitor conditions inside relief camps so that displaced families do not face shortages of basic necessities.
The Chief Secretary stressed that people living in remote and inaccessible villages should not be left behind. He asked district administrations to ensure that relief materials reach every affected locality, even where road connectivity has been disrupted due to rising floodwaters.
The administration is also working to restore electricity, road connectivity and communication networks in areas where public infrastructure has suffered extensive damage.
Central Agencies Asked to Intensify Rescue and Relief Operations
Recognising the seriousness of the flood situation, Ravi Kota called upon central disaster response agencies to further strengthen their support to Assam’s ongoing relief efforts.
He requested agencies including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force to intensify rescue, evacuation and restoration activities in severely affected districts.
These agencies have already been assisting the state administration in conducting rescue missions, transporting relief materials and reaching villages cut off by floodwaters. Their additional deployment is expected to improve access to isolated areas where local authorities are facing operational challenges.
The combined efforts of civil administration, disaster response teams and defence forces are aimed at restoring connectivity and ensuring that emergency assistance reaches vulnerable populations as quickly as possible.
Flood Situation Continues to Deteriorate
According to the latest assessment released by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the flood situation worsened considerably on Wednesday as rivers continued to flow above danger levels in several parts of the state.
Official figures indicate that more than 6.53 lakh people have been affected across 11 districts, making this one of the most severe flood spells witnessed in Assam during the current monsoon season.
The authority also reported that 10 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative flood-related death toll this year to 41.
Large stretches of residential areas remain submerged, while thousands of hectares of agricultural land have been inundated. The floods have damaged houses, washed away roads and bridges, disrupted transportation networks and forced a large number of families to seek shelter in relief camps established by the government.
The situation continues to remain dynamic, with district administrations closely monitoring river levels and rainfall patterns throughout the state.
Eleven Districts Remain Under Severe Impact
The districts currently facing the most severe impact include:
Sivasagar
Charaideo
Dhemaji
Dibrugarh
Golaghat
Hojai
Jorhat
Kamrup
Kamrup Metropolitan
Karbi Anglong
Nagaon
Across these districts, floodwaters have entered residential colonies, agricultural fields and public institutions, affecting transportation, education and healthcare services.
In many villages, residents have been shifted to safer locations while local authorities continue to monitor embankments and vulnerable riverbanks for any signs of further breaches.
Officials are also carrying out damage assessments to estimate losses to public infrastructure, private property and agricultural production.
IMD Forecast Raises Fresh Concerns
Even as rescue and rehabilitation efforts continue, weather forecasts have added another layer of concern for disaster management authorities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated locations across Assam over the next four days.
The forecast has prompted the state administration to remain on high alert, as additional rainfall could worsen flooding in already affected districts and create fresh emergencies in other parts of the state.
District administrations have been instructed to maintain preparedness, closely monitor weather updates and activate emergency response mechanisms wherever required.
Officials have also been asked to remain ready for fresh evacuations if river levels rise further following the anticipated rainfall.
Government Focuses on Rescue, Restoration and Rehabilitation
Apart from immediate rescue operations, the Assam government has placed equal emphasis on restoring normal life in flood-hit areas.
Repairing damaged roads, restoring electricity supply, ensuring safe drinking water and re-establishing communication links remain among the administration’s top priorities.
Healthcare teams have also been mobilised to prevent outbreaks of water-borne diseases, while veterinary departments are working to protect livestock affected by the floods.
The government is simultaneously focusing on rehabilitation measures, recognising that thousands of affected families will require continued assistance even after floodwaters begin to recede.
Officials across departments have been directed to work round the clock until normalcy is restored.
Administration Steps Up Preparedness Amid Continuing Monsoon Threat
With forecasts indicating that heavy rainfall may continue over the coming days, Assam’s disaster management machinery remains fully activated.
The state government is coordinating closely with district administrations, the National Disaster Response Force, the armed forces and other emergency agencies to strengthen rescue operations, accelerate restoration work and ensure uninterrupted delivery of relief materials.
Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has made it clear that every department must act with urgency and maintain seamless coordination so that people affected by the floods receive timely support. As Assam battles another intense spell of monsoon flooding, the administration’s immediate priority remains saving lives, restoring essential services and reducing the impact of one of the state’s most challenging natural disasters this year.
