Floods in Assam Claim at Least 41 Lives

At least 41 people have died in floods in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, officials say. Rescue and relief efforts are underway.

The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, have caused widespread destruction and affected various parts of the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the news on social media.

Indian Air Force personnel, state disaster response force, and national disaster response force, along with other agencies, are working around the clock to provide relief and rescue operations in Assam, Sarma said.

According to officials, nearly 150 relief camps have been set up, and around 30,000 people are taking shelter in these camps. Chief Minister Sarma stated that over 900,000 people in more than 1,800 villages have been affected by the floods.

The state government has issued a statement saying that officials are using drones and other necessary equipment to facilitate the distribution of relief materials. More than 50 small boats have been deployed in areas where national disaster management team boats cannot operate.

The Indian Air Force and armed forces have also assisted in distributing relief materials in remote areas, the statement said.

Experts say that urbanization and climate change are increasing the frequency and severity of monsoon rains. Last week, sudden floods and landslides caused by monsoon rains in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Kashmir claimed at least 19 lives.