Assam floods cause over 100 deaths as experts urge better warnings

Assam, India, is experiencing its worst flooding in approximately six decades, with more than 100 deaths reported this year. The floods, driven by intense monsoon rains, have caused sudden and catastrophic rises in river levels, leaving residents with little to no warning.

Climate and disaster experts attribute the increasing unpredictability and destructiveness of these floods to several factors, including intense rainfall, sand mining, upstream deforestation, wetland loss, and urbanization. There is also a noted heavy reliance on embankments.

Experts are calling for a shift in strategy from reactive relief and flood-control structures toward long-term preventative measures. Recommended actions include improved early warning systems, scientific risk mapping, and the restoration of forests, wetlands, and floodplains to naturally absorb water.