Assam floods claim dozens of lives, experts urge stronger warnings and ecosystem-based planning

During a July night in Assam, heavy rain knocked out power and caused the Dikhow River to rise dramatically, sweeping away Rojo Neog and later drowning Krishna Karamkar, who lost his life while pulling his son to safety. The floods, described by state officials as the worst in about six decades, have killed more than 100 people, displaced over 700,000 residents and inundated farmland and infrastructure. Residents reported water levels climbing from knee-deep to neck-deep within minutes, leaving many to seek refuge on rooftops and trees.

Scientists link the increasing severity to climate-driven erratic rains, sand mining, upstream deforestation, wetland degradation and heavy dependence on embankments. They recommend moving away from solely building flood-control structures toward enhancing early-warning systems, scientific risk mapping and restoring natural water-absorbing landscapes. While India has expanded flood forecasting, researchers note that warnings often do not reach at-risk villages and lack accompanying preparedness drills.