Flooding in Assam

The Northeastern State of Assam is currently suffering from a bout of floods. While floods are an every year occurrence in Assam, the magnitude and intensity of flooding is rising as of late. The mains reasons for this is climate change and human inhabitation in the vast flood plains of the Brahmaputra river.

2019 Assam Floods

• 31 of the Assam’s 33 districts are currently hit by the spell of floods.
• It has affected nearly 26.5 lakh people and has caused 11 deaths so far.
• Flood situation in Assam continues to deteriorate even further as the water level is rising at a speed of 2-3 cm per hour in Guwahati.
• The worst affected districts are Barpeta (7.35 lakh people facing the flood fury), followed by Morigaon (3.50 lakh people) and Dhubri district where 3.38 lakh people are affected.
• The state authorities are busy in arranging disaster relief and rescue operations.
• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other central agencies have also been asked to provide all necessary help to the flood-affected people.
• About 70% of the Kaziranga National Park has been affected by the flood waters.

Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga National Park is one of India’s most famous national parks located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. The area is host to approximately two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses, is a World Heritage Site. It is a vast expanse of tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests and is criss-crossed by four major rivers, including the Brahmaputra. In addition, the park also includes numerous small bodies of water.