Assam faces mounting devastation as heavy rainfall exacerbates the flood situation, submerging fresh regions in 10 districts and impacting over 37,000 individuals, according to an official bulletin released on Saturday, as reported by PTI.

Regrettably, Muktar Ali lost his life in the Dhirenpara area of Kamrup Metropolitan district due to a landslide, as reported by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). This unfortunate incident occurred while Ali was asleep, as the collapsing boundary wall of a residential complex crushed his residence, leading to his tragic demise.

The escalating deluge has already affected 37,535 people, according to the ASDMA report. The districts of Biswanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, and Udalguri are among those hit hardest by the initial wave of floods this year. As of Friday, a total of 34,189 individuals were already grappling with the floodwaters across seven districts.

Lakhimpur remains the district most severely affected, with 25,275 people struggling to cope with the deluge. Moreover, over 3,000 individuals have been impacted in both Biswanath and Dibrugarh districts, while Tinsukia reports an additional 2,000 adversely affected residents, as detailed in the ASDMA bulletin.

To aid those affected, the state has established 17 relief distribution centers and two relief camps. Unfortunately, embankments have suffered breaches in Sonitpur, Darrang, Nagaon, and Udalguri districts, while damage to embankments has occurred in various locations within Dhemaji, Goalpara, and Karimganj districts.

The havoc wreaked by the floods extends beyond residential areas, with schools, Anganwadi centers, roads, and bridges succumbing to the floodwaters or sustaining significant damage in the affected districts, according to the official bulletin.

Erosion is yet another pressing concern, observed in Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Morigaon, Nagaon, Sivsagar, South Salmara, and Udalguri districts. Additionally, a landslide has been reported in Dima Hasao district, while urban areas in Kamrup Metropolitan, Cachar, and Nalbari districts have witnessed flooding, according to the ASDMA report.

Amidst the crisis, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya took charge, chairing a virtual meeting with central and state agencies to assess public health preparedness as part of Assam's flood management efforts. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized the need for collaboration and coordination between central and state agencies to ensure the effective management of the floods, urging officials to develop a comprehensive flood public health response and action plan to address health emergencies.