Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday rejected opposition allegations that illegal mining contributed to the severe flooding in parts of upper Assam. He maintained that the affected areas experience inundation during the monsoon every year and said the latest disaster could not be attributed to unlawful mining activities.

The floods have caused widespread destruction across the state, killing 87 people and displacing lakhs of residents. Numerous families have lost their homes and belongings as rising water entered villages and damaged property. The scale of the devastation has intensified questions about the environmental and administrative factors affecting Assam’s recurring flood crisis.

Speaking to reporters, Sarma said water flowing from the hilly regions of neighbouring Nagaland was responsible for flooding several low-lying areas in Assam. He argued that the movement of water from higher elevations during periods of heavy monsoon rainfall had repeatedly caused rivers and local water channels to overflow into nearby settlements.

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“Every year, these areas of Assam get flooded because water enters from the hilly areas of Nagaland,” Sarma said. He added that this was not the first time villages in the region had been affected by floods and firmly denied that the latest inundation occurred because of illegal mining.

The chief minister issued the clarification after the opposition Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of having links to illegal coal and sand mining in Assam. The opposition’s allegation suggested that unauthorised extraction and related environmental damage may have worsened the flooding, although the information provided did not include evidence establishing a direct link.

The dispute has added a political dimension to the humanitarian crisis unfolding across Assam. While the government attributes the flooding to the state’s recurring monsoon conditions and water entering from neighbouring hill areas, the opposition is demanding scrutiny of mining activities. Relief, rehabilitation and support for displaced residents remain the immediate priorities as communities attempt to recover from the disaster.

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