Over 3.5 lakh people were affected in 11 districts, and six died in Assam’s flood. According to a PTI report, road and rail communication was disrupted following incessant rainfall in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. The number of deaths caused by floods, rain, and storms in the state since May 28 has reached 12, with three occurring in Cachar, two in Hailakandi, and one in Karbi Anglong.

While Union Home Minister Amit Shah has contacted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to inquire about the state’s flood crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged the state of the Center’s assistance in handling the situation.

Sarma posted on X, formerly twitter, “Hon’ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji telephoned me to enquire about the flood situation in various parts of Assam, following the impact of Cyclone Remal.” He said Shah has “assured us the complete support of the Government of India in these trying times. We are grateful for his proactive efforts”.

Districts affected by flood

According to officials, the districts of Karbi Anglong, Dhemaji, Hojai, Cachar, Karimganj, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Hailakandi, Golaghat, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao have all been affected, totaling 3,49,045 people.

With 1,19,997 impacted, the Cachar district is the worst struck, followed by Nagaon (78,756), Hojai (77,030), and Karimganj (52,684).

They stated that a total of 28,317 afflicted individuals have sought refuge in 187 relief shelters, with 15,626 located in Cachar, 5,308 in Hojai, 3,937 in Karimganj, and 2,706 in Hailakandi.

Rescue personnel brought 615 individuals, including 255 in Hojai, 152 in Cachar, 90 in Karimganj, and 75 in Nagaon, to safety.

Damage caused by breaching water

Along with damaging 11 roads and breaching three embankments, swirling floodwaters also caused urban flooding in Kamrup, Cachar, and Jorhat.

The water level of the River Barak has risen past the danger mark, flooding parts of Silchar town, including the railway station in the Tarapur district, significantly disrupting rail and road connection in the Barak Valley.

Train services, highways, daily lives affected

A North East Frontier Railway representative stated that the train services to Silchar, the biggest town in Barak Valley, had been either cancelled or short-terminated due to flooding at the railway station.

Silchar-Guwahati Express and the Silchar-Rangiya Express were cancelled on Friday and Saturday.

Due to excessive water levels and speed limits between Jugijan and Jamunamukh stations in the Lumding division, six more trains were cancelled on Friday.

Dima Hasao, Hojai, and the three districts of Barak Valley—Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj—are among the hardest affected by the state’s current floods.

Twenty metres of National Highway 6 in the Lumslum district of Meghalaya were washed away by strong rain, disrupting road communication between the Barak Valley and other parts of the state and region. This has left vehicles stranded.

The constant rain has made it difficult for people to go about their daily lives in Dima Hasao and has negatively impacted road connectivity across the region.

Multiple landslides have obstructed the Haflong-Harangajao route, and a part of the Haflong-Silchar road has washed away at Harangajao, cutting it off totally.

Officials stated that train services had not yet been reinstated after they were either cancelled or abruptly stopped because of landslides along the Haflong-Badarpur rail route.

IMD’s warning

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Cyclone Remal’s effects have caused the southwest monsoon to arrive in Assam and other northeastern states earlier than expected.

Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Cachar, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, Dhubri, and South Salmara districts are expected to see significant rainfall and thunderstorms throughout the next two days, according to the IMD’s warning.