Guwahati : The first wave of monsoon floods has intensified across Assam, affecting more than 20,000 people in Dhemaji district and prompting authorities to issue high alerts in several vulnerable districts as rivers continue to swell following heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.

State authorities have placed flood-prone areas on maximum alert amid warnings that rising river levels, embankment breaches and continued rainfall could worsen the situation over the next 24 to 48 hours.

According to inputs from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati and the Meteorological Centre in Itanagar, intense rainfall in upper catchment areas has significantly increased river discharge, raising concerns for downstream districts.

Officials said the flood wave is expected to impact Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonitpur before moving further downstream through the Brahmaputra basin and eventually reaching Dhubri.

Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state government has instructed all district administrations and line departments to remain fully prepared. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other emergency agencies have been kept on standby for rapid deployment.

Authorities have advised residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to stay vigilant and move to safer locations when directed by local administrations. People have also been urged to avoid entering flooded areas or travelling in small boats across the Brahmaputra and its tributaries due to strong river currents.

A high alert has been sounded in Lakhimpur district after water levels in the Ranganadi River rose sharply following the release of water from an upstream hydroelectric project. Emergency response measures have been activated, while SDRF personnel have been deployed to vulnerable locations.

Officials said water levels in the Dikrong and Singra rivers are also rising rapidly. An emergency control room has been set up, and residents have been asked to seek assistance through the district helpline if required.

Dhemaji district remains the worst affected by the current flood spell. Continuous rainfall over the past several days, coupled with heavy precipitation in adjoining Arunachal Pradesh, has caused rivers and streams to overflow, inundating large areas.

Official estimates indicate that more than 20,000 people across 84 villages have been affected so far. Floodwaters have submerged nearly 920 hectares of agricultural land, causing extensive damage to standing crops.

The overflowing Jiadhal River has inundated villages such as Bhoju Gaon, Dihiri, Salmari and Goroimari under the Dhemaji Revenue Circle, leaving many residents grappling with shortages of food and drinking water.

Similarly, the swollen Na-Nadi has flooded 32 villages under the Gogamukh Revenue Circle, including Chutakari, Bordoi-Bali, Chelajan, Lotia, Na-pam and Berbhonga, affecting more than 500 families.

Road connectivity has also suffered significantly. Floodwaters have submerged portions of the Gogamukh-Ghilamara PWD road at Champora, disrupting communication between Bordoibam and Ghilamara for the past three days. Large stretches of agricultural land in Bilmukh and Konwarbari have also gone under water.

In Jonai subdivision, rising waters of the Dikari River entered residential areas in Jamuguri, Siyari, Uluwani and Majgaon, while the Sille River flooded parts of Malbhog-Santipur and Rabhakathoni, causing widespread waterlogging and disruption to daily life.

To support affected residents, the district administration has opened a relief camp at Dharampur Lalikijan LP School under Jiadhal Panchayat, where families displaced by the floods have been provided shelter.

Water Resources Department officials said the Brahmaputra is flowing close to the danger mark at Sissikolghar, while the water levels of several tributaries continue to rise, increasing the likelihood of further flooding if rainfall persists.

The first spell of floods has also impacted Bajali district, where the Kaldia River breached nearly 50 metres of an embankment on Tuesday evening. The breach inundated agricultural fields and damaged road infrastructure in several areas.

Floodwaters submerged key road stretches, including the Dr Jinaram Road-Kaoimari Road and the Kaoimari-Rampur Road, disrupting transportation and affecting nearby residential localities.

Officials reported that nearly 35 hectares of agricultural land have been flooded, while around 2,000 livestock have been affected, raising concerns among farmers about crop and livelihood losses.

Local MLA Dharmeswar Roy visited the affected areas along with departmental officials to assess the damage. During the inspection, residents alleged that past indiscriminate excavation near the embankment had weakened the structure and contributed to the breach.

Taking note of the complaints, Roy directed the district administration to conduct an inquiry and take action against those found responsible. He also assured residents that repair and strengthening work on the damaged embankment would be undertaken on priority.

The MLA further announced that free animal feed would be distributed to livestock owners in the flood-affected Bongaon area. Meanwhile, persistent rainfall has triggered multiple landslides along National Highway-315A, a crucial road connecting Assam’s Dibrugarh district with Arunachal Pradesh.

The most severely affected section lies near the Kathalguri Beat Office under the Joypur Forest Range, where a large portion of the hillside has collapsed into a gorge, leaving the road dangerously narrow and vulnerable to further erosion.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that a fresh landslide struck the Kothalguri U-turn area, worsening conditions along the route that passes through the ecologically sensitive Dihing Patkai National Park.

Authorities have placed geo-bags at vulnerable locations, restricted the movement of heavy vehicles and imposed a night-time traffic ban between 6 pm and 6 am on the Joypur-Kathalguri stretch. Safety barricades have also been installed while restoration work continues.

With rivers continuing to rise and rainfall forecast to persist in several parts of the region, authorities have urged residents across vulnerable districts to remain alert and strictly follow official advisories as the state braces for a potentially more severe flood situation in the coming days.