By Oluwakemi Kindness
Floods in India’s northeastern state of Assam have killed 97 people and displaced thousands, after one of the region’s worst flooding disasters in recent years submerged villages, farmland and homes.
The floods have affected nearly 170,000 people, with many residents forced into temporary shelters as swollen rivers, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, overflow their banks.
More than 14,000 hectares of farmland have been submerged, worsening concerns over food security and livelihoods in affected communities.
Images from the worst-hit areas showed half-submerged houses, uprooted trees and vehicles trapped under thick mud.
Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa-Sarma shared footage of himself consoling the parents of a 13-year-old boy who died while attempting to rescue his pet dog from floodwaters.
“No parent should ever have to bid farewell to their child,” Sarma said.
India’s Health Minister, J.P. Nadda, who visited the affected areas, described the scale of destruction as severe, saying recovery would take time.
“Village after village has been submerged.”
Flooding is common in Assam during India’s June-September monsoon season, but experts say climate change, changing river patterns and poor urban planning are worsening the frequency and severity of disasters.
Residents and officials have also blamed illegal coal mining activities in neighbouring Nagaland for contributing to flooding in areas previously less affected.
Climate advocacy group Climate Trends said the worsening floods reflect the combined impact of global warming, changing river dynamics and increased human exposure.
The group warned that the disasters are becoming more frequent, complex and costly, requiring stronger climate adaptation measures.
