Guwahati: Assam's flood situation showed signs of improvement on Monday, with no fresh deaths reported in the last 24 hours. However, more than 4.45 lakh people continue to be affected across six districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

The latest ASDMA bulletin said 4,45,495 people remain affected in Sivasagar, Golaghat, Charaideo, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Kamrup (Metropolitan). The number has fallen from more than 5.24 lakh people reported a day earlier.

Charaideo Remains Worst-Hit District

Among the affected areas, Charaideo remains the worst-hit district with 1,88,404 affected residents, followed by Sivasagar (1,44,461) and Jorhat (74,458).

Officials confirmed that 68 people have died in this year's floods, with no additional fatalities reported over the past 24 hours.

Relief Camps Continue Operations

Authorities have kept 90 relief camps operational, providing shelter to 28,695 displaced people. In addition, 94 relief distribution centres continue supplying food and essential items to flood-hit communities.

Rescue and relief efforts are being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil defence teams, and local authorities, with 67 boats deployed across affected areas.

Read more: Delhi-NCR Receives Heavy Rainfall, Ghaziabad Schools Closed as Flash Floods Hit Himachal Pradesh

Crops and Livestock Suffer Heavy Losses

Floodwaters continue to impact agriculture across the state. According to the ASDMA, 37,139.52 hectares of farmland remain submerged, while 26,679 animals have been washed away.

Authorities also reported damage to houses, roads, embankments, and other public infrastructure in several flood-affected districts.

Congress Leaders Demand Permanent Flood Solution

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed solidarity with flood-affected families and urged both the Centre and the Assam government to speed up rescue, rehabilitation, and compensation efforts.

Kharge also called for immediate financial assistance from the PM-CARES Fund and questioned earlier promises made by the BJP to provide a permanent solution to Assam's recurring floods.

Can Floods in Assam Be Prevented?

Experts say Assam's floods cannot be completely prevented because they are closely linked to the natural behavior of the Brahmaputra River, one of the world's largest river systems. Seasonal monsoon rainfall, runoff from the eastern Himalayas, and the river's vast floodplain make annual flooding almost unavoidable.

However, experts believe flood damage can be significantly reduced through:

• Better flood forecasting and early warning systems
• Restoration of wetlands that naturally absorb floodwater
• Stronger and well-maintained embankments
• Improved drainage infrastructure
• Restricting construction on flood-prone areas
• Better river and watershed management

While floods continue to replenish fertile soil, support wetlands, and sustain agriculture and fisheries, reducing their destructive impact remains a major priority for disaster management authorities and policymakers.