Assam flood toll rises to 47; CM Himanta Biswa Sarma calls it 'unusual'

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said 47 people have died in the current wave of floods, while eight remain missing.

Sarma told reporters that exceptionally heavy rainfall in Nagaland's Mokokchung, Wokha and Mon districts, along with Charaideo in Assam, between July 18 and July 20 triggered the floods.

"Mokokchung alone recorded 493% above normal rainfall," he said. "Wokha recorded 108% above normal while Mon received 45% above normal rainfall. Charaideo district simultaneously recorded 436% above normal rainfall while neighbouring Sivasagar received 134% above normal rainfall."


Sarma said the flooding was particularly severe because water from Nagaland flowed downstream even as Charaideo was receiving extremely heavy rainfall. "Water was flowing downstream from Nagaland while Charaideo itself was receiving extremely heavy rainfall. When we analysed the situation, we found that floodwaters from Charaideo could not flow into the Brahmaputra because the river itself was overflowing," he said.

The chief minister said the India Meteorological Department had ruled out a cloudburst in Nagaland.

"The IMD has informed us that there was no cloudburst. Technically, it was an episode of extremely heavy rainfall. Politically one may compare it to a cloudburst because the impact was similar, but scientifically it was excessive rainfall".

Sarma described the floods as unusual. "Generally, in Assam, first we see the river swelling and gradually we prepare. This time waters came gushing and there was hardly any time for evacuation."

An inter-ministerial team will visit Assam on July 25 to assess flood damage. The team recently visited Dhemaji and Lakhimpur.

Sarma, who was camping in the flood-affected areas, said rescue teams were yet to reach about 80,000 people in the two districts. "There are 40,000 people without electricity," he added.