Five districts in western Assam declared drought-hit

GUWAHATI

Five districts in western Assam have been declared drought-hit, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said following a Cabinet meeting held in Dibrugarh on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) evening.

Citing data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Central Ground Water Board, Mr. Sarma said that the districts of Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, and Kokrajhar experienced a rainfall deficit of 40% over the past month. The deficient period coincided with the onset of the monsoon in the State.

The Chief Minister said that farmers who had insured their crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana would be eligible for compensation.

The declaration follows a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on July 19, during which the government classified 27 districts as rainfall deficit zones. Of these, 14 districts were placed under the high rainfall deficit category, necessitating immediate intervention.

Senior secretaries, in consultation with District Commissioners, were instructed to identify and demarcate affected areas and initiate the process for drought declaration.

On July 22, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi to seek central support in view of the prevailing conditions.

“The Union Minister has agreed to visit Assam soon to assess the situation,” Mr. Bora said.

Assam is not the only State in the northeast facing rain shortfalls. Meghalaya, too, has experienced lower-than-normal rainfall. Sohra and Mawsynram — traditionally among the wettest places on earth — have recorded significantly reduced precipitation this season.

According to the IMD, Sohra received 1,095.4 mm of rainfall in June this year, which is nearly one-third of the 3,041.2 mm it recorded in June 2024.