Severe floods in Assam: 68 dead, over 7 lakh people affected; no warning or advance preparation in Bangladesh

Special Correspondent

 

Dhaka/Sylhet, July 28: The death toll in the current season’s devastating floods in the Indian state of Assam has risen to 68. More than 4 to 7 lakh people are still affected in different districts of the state, with hundreds of villages flooded. The floodwaters caused by hill slopes and heavy rainfall are flowing towards the Sylhet border through various rivers, including the Brahmaputra, which has created a risk of severe flooding in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. However, there is no news of advance forecasting or strong preparations from the Bangladesh government yet.

Flood situation in Assam

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) and other sources, the upstream districts of Charaideo, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, and Nagaon are the worst affected. According to the latest information, more than 6 lakh people are still directly affected, and hundreds of villages are under water. Several thousand hectares of cropland have been destroyed, thousands of cattle have been washed away.

 

The main cause of the floods is unusually heavy rainfall (more than 400 percent of normal) in Assam and Nagaland-Arunachal Pradesh. The Brahmaputra river and its tributaries (such as Dikhu, Dhansiri) are flowing above the danger mark. Rescue operations are underway; thousands of people have taken shelter in relief camps. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the situation is improving somewhat, but the season is not over yet.

 

Although such floods are an annual occurrence in Assam, experts believe this year’s intensity has surpassed long-standing records. Climate change, deforestation and lack of river management are being blamed.

 

Risks are increasing in Sylhet.

The Assam floodwaters are entering the Sylhet region through the tributaries of the Brahmaputra (especially through the Surma-Kushiyara system). The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of Bangladesh said that the water is flowing above the danger level at the Fenchuganj point of the Kushiyara river. Short-term flooding is possible in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj in the next 48-72 hours.

The situation is likely to deteriorate further with heavy rains forecast upstream. If the water level in the Surma-Kushiara basin continues to rise, low-lying areas including the haor areas may be flooded.

 

Lack of preparation

Locals complain that there is no proper warning or preparation at the government level regarding the possibility of flooding. Although there are warnings from the Water Development Board, there is a lack of coordination and widespread publicity between the local administration and the public. In the past, the Sylhet region has been repeatedly affected by floods, yet long-term solutions (such as strengthening dams, improving drainage systems) are being implemented slowly.

 

Experts say it is important to increase coordination with upstream countries and issue early warnings based on modern weather forecasts. Residents of Sylhet division have been advised to regularly monitor river water levels and take necessary precautions.

 

Local public representatives and civil society have demanded increased activity by government and non-government organizations to control the situation. It is feared that the extent of the damage could increase further if coordinated preparations are not made to deal with the flood.