Assam, the gateway to India’s North-Eastern region, is highly vulnerable to recurrent floods, with far-reaching implications for its population, especially those in vulnerable groups.
Annual floods disrupt food production, supply chains and livelihoods, leading to food shortages, poor child feeding practices and heightened susceptibility to infectious diseases. This is particularly evident in the char-chaporis (riverine islands or lands) of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, where floods impact more than 30 districts every year. According to the National Commission on Floods, 31,050 square kilometers of Assam — or 39.58 per cent of the state’s total land area — is flood-prone. This accounts for 9.40 per cent of India’s total flood-prone area.
Annually, an average of 9,310 square kilometers in Assam is affected by floods. Comparatively, while 10.2 per cent of India’s total land is flood-prone, Assam’s flood-prone area is nearly four times higher than the national average. The annual floods brought on by the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries exacerbate socio-economic vulnerabilities, especially in the geographically challenging char-chaporis areas, where recovery efforts are complicated by limited accessibility.
Flood exposure has been strongly linked to increased nutritional deficiencies in affected populations. Studies show that the nutritional status in flood-prone areas of Assam is significantly poorer compared to other regions.
For example, during the devastating floods in Barpeta district, 45.5 per cent of children under five years were moderately underweight and 24.2 per cent were severely underweight.
In Morigaon, stunting rates reached 47.6 per cent, while moderate wasting was 46.1 per cent and severe wasting 20.6 per cent. Among children aged 24-35 months in Barpeta, severe underweight prevalence peaked at 50.9 per cent, highlighting a dire nutritional crisis. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure further underscores this issue, with 48.6 per cent of preschool children in flood-prone areas suffering from undernutrition.
Majuli, the cultural heart of Assam and one of the largest river islands in the world, exemplifies the challenges of recurrent flooding. Its unique topography and intricate hydrological network make it particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Flooding disrupts lives, damages infrastructure and imposes significant socio-economic challenges on the island’s inhabitants.
While infrastructural projects like roads and embankments aim to enhance resilience, they often alter natural water flow, intensifying flood patterns.
The floods of 2008 illustrate the severity of the issue, with nearly 90 per cent of Majuli's 154 settlements inundated.
Over 9,000 hectares of crops were destroyed and 12,000 households displaced. Such recurring floods leave vast stretches of fertile land waterlogged, crippling agriculture and exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. For Majuli’s 167,304 inhabitants (Census, 2011), these challenges are compounded by climate change, which has brought prolonged droughts, rising temperaturesand increasingly unpredictable flooding patterns. Sustainable and integrated solutions are urgently needed to address these issues.
Children and pregnant women are particularly affected by these nutritional challenges. Malnutrition among children leads to stunted growth, weakened immunity and long-term health complications. Pregnant women face risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to poor nutrition, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of poor health. The compounded effects of frequent flooding, limited healthcare access and inadequate food supplies contribute to widespread nutritional insecurity in flood-affected communities.
Beyond immediate impacts, frequent floods erode livelihoods and deepen poverty. The unpredictable nature of these disasters heightens risk aversion among households, leading to conservative behaviors that hinder income generation. This creates a vicious cycle of vulnerability, where poverty exacerbates the impacts of future floods and recovery becomes increasingly difficult.
To address the challenges posed by flooding in Assam, integrated and sustainable strategies are essential. Promoting flood-tolerant farming practices and diversifying livelihoods can reduce dependence on vulnerable agricultural systems. Providing nutrient-rich food aid, improving access to healthcare services and ensuring clean water availability are critical steps to address the nutritional crisis.
Raising awareness about hygiene and flood preparedness can mitigate health risks during disasters. Restoring floodplains and preserving wetlands can enhance the natural capacity of ecosystems to manage water flow, reducing flood intensity. Effective disaster management policies, including early warning systems and efficient relief operations, are crucial for minimising displacement and loss of life.
Long-term resilience requires not only infrastructural improvements but also community-driven approaches that prioritise sustainable development and environmental conservation. By focusing on these measures, Assam can build resilience against flooding and safeguard the health and livelihoods of its vulnerable communities. Addressing the socio-economic and nutritional challenges associated with floods is imperative for ensuring a sustainable future for disaster-affected regions.
Views are authors' own and do not necessarily reflect that of Down To Earth