Nearly 31 districts of the Indian state of Assam have been inundated after being hit by floods caused by extremely heavy monsoon rain, the state disaster management authority said.
It added that about 120,000 residents had been affected due to floods this year, and estimated that over 10,591.85 hectares of crops have also been damaged. Flood water has also damaged four embankments, seven bridges, and dozens of roads.
Nalbari is the worst affected district, with 44,707 people impacted, followed by the Baksa (26,571) and Lakhimpur (25,096) districts.
As of Wednesday, 2,091 residents had been evacuated to 14 relief camps across the state.
Why is Assam Hit By Flooding Every Year?
Every year Assam is hit by floods, especially during the monsoon. Overall, the state accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the total flood-prone area of the country. Last year, floods and landslides in the north-eastern part of the country left about 197 dead and thousands displaced.
Experts cite reasons like topography – it is a hilly state, and excessive rainfalls, as well as man-made reasons behind the deadly floods.
“Assam is home for a vast network of rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak River, and more than 50 tributaries feeding them. Assam also receives river water from neighboring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya,” the state government website reads.
Brahmaputra's bank erosion is regarded as one of the primary reasons behind the annual disaster.
Man-made reasons include river bank and wetland encroachment, lack of drainage, unplanned urban growth, hill cutting, and deforestation. Experts also add that dams being built further aggravate these disasters.