The death toll from monsoon flooding in the northeastern Indian state of Assam has risen to 47, with more than 721,000 people affected across 25 districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Six deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, primarily in the eastern districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat, which have no history of high floods. A total of 883 villages remain submerged, and 24,124 people are sheltering in 103 relief camps.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the “unprecedented devastation” to a combination of cloudbursts upstream in neighbouring Nagaland and localised heavy rainfall that was 436% above normal. He said the Indian Air Force, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and state agencies were conducting rescue and evacuation operations by air and boat, and that over 300,000 kg of rice had been delivered to the worst-affected districts. The Chief Minister also announced plans for a long-term rehabilitation package and a future coordination mechanism with neighbouring states to manage the impact of upstream cloudbursts.

In western India, Gujarat's Valsad district experienced torrential rain that dumped more than 1,100 millimetres of rainfall in less than 24 hours, triggering flash floods that submerged roads, disrupted railway services, and cut electricity. Emergency teams rescued around 1,200 people, and a viral video from a housing society in Valsad showed a resident standing in neck-deep water, with residents reporting two days of power cuts. The man, identified as Shivam Singh, later praised the response of local authorities and the NDRF, who provided food and relocation assistance. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for the region, and Ahmedabad Traffic Police closed multiple underpasses due to waterlogging.

The India Meteorological Department has warned that an active monsoon phase is likely to continue over parts of western and central India, with the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated places. In Assam, officials cautioned that rising river levels and continued rainfall could worsen the situation in low-lying areas. Train services remained suspended in a section of the Northeast Frontier Railway’s Tinsukia Division after the Dikhow River overflowed and inundated tracks. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta urged residents to avoid going near overflowing rivers, noting that some deaths occurred when people ventured out to observe the floods.

India’s southwest monsoon, which typically delivers nearly 70% of the country’s annual rainfall between June and September, is vital for agriculture but can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and rivers when intense bursts occur. This year’s monsoon has brought repeated episodes of extreme rainfall, with northeastern states particularly vulnerable because of swollen rivers, hilly terrain, and saturated soils. Authorities in both Assam and Gujarat have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow evacuation advisories as rescue and relief operations continue.