Assam flood death toll rises to 80; Over 2 lakh people still affected
Babushahi Bureau
Guwahati (Assam), July 31, 2026: The death toll from the devastating floods in Assam has risen to 80, even as the overall flood situation has shown signs of improvement and the number of affected people has declined. More than 2.12 lakh people remain affected across four districts of the state.
The situation had been more severe earlier this week, when over three lakh people across seven districts were affected. The administration is continuing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the flood-hit areas, with thousands of displaced residents receiving shelter and assistance through relief camps and distribution centres.
Multiple agencies, including the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, police and civil authorities, remain engaged in rescue and relief operations.
Floodwaters have also caused extensive damage to agricultural land and public infrastructure. Large areas of cropland have been submerged, while embankments, roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure have suffered damage.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced relief measures for flood-affected loan borrowers in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat districts following a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC).
The committee, attended by representatives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), NABARD, State Bank of India (SBI) and other commercial banks, decided to provide a six-month moratorium on loans to eligible flood-affected borrowers in the four districts.
The Chief Minister said the repayment period for loans may also be extended by one to seven years, depending on the nature of the loan and the circumstances of the borrower.
The Assam government has also sought a special financial assistance package from the Centre. The demand was placed before the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), which concluded its four-day assessment of flood damage in Upper Assam on July 29.
The state government has urged the Centre to recognise the Upper Assam floods as an “atypical, high-intensity, rapid-onset event” and sought flexible norms for assessing losses and extending assistance.
While floodwaters have begun receding in some areas, relief operations and damage assessment are continuing across the affected districts.