Assam Minister Keshab Mahanta inspects the flood-affected area, in Nazira, Assam. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Not all flood-related deaths in Assam are due to floodwaters, State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta said, adding that some drown or are washed away because of their “flood curiosity”.
As of Wednesday (July 22, 2026), 41 people lost their lives during the current wave of floods since June, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). At least 31 died in the last 48 hours, mostly in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts.
“I have interacted with many victims during my tour of the flood-affected areas. They told me some people never returned after venturing out to satiate their curiosity about floods,” Mr. Mahanta, who represents the Asom Gana Parishad from Kaliabor Assembly constituency, told journalists recently.
“We have been advising people not to go too close to the overflowing rivers. People in flood-affected or flood-prone areas should take care and desist from going out to see what floods are like,” he said after touring some flood-hit areas this week.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who toured the worst-affected Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) to assess the extent of the damage and review the ongoing rescue and relief operations, said about 100 people remain missing in the devastating floods.
“The situation is extremely serious. Many villages remain underwater, and there are areas where rescue teams have not been able to reach yet. Nearly 100 people in the worst-hit areas are still missing,” he said.
According to the ASDMA, the water levels of the rivers Desang and Dikhow in Sivasagar district, and Dhansiri in Golaghat, have been rising. “Citizens are advised to stay away from these rivers,” it said on Thursday (July 23, 2026).
Published – July 23, 2026 12:28 pm IST
