What you need to know
- Official figures show that flooding in Assam has claimed the lives of 78 people
- More monsoon rain has been predicted over the next three days leading to fears of renewed flooding in vulnerable areas
- India's opposition MPs protested in the parliament premises over the reported firing of pellet guns during the youth-led Cockroach protest movement and the donation embezzlement controversy surrounding the Ram Temple
Here are the latest developments from India on Thursday, July 30:
Flood-related deaths in Assam reach 78
The number of deaths related to Assam's monsoon floods has increased to 78, the latest official tally showed Thursday.
The flooding has affected about 300,000 people across seven districts of the northeastern state. Charaideo remains the worst-hit district with 137,561 people affected by the deluge, followed by Sivasagar with 84,600 people and Jorhat with 49,911.
Heavy monsoon rains caused the 2,900-kilometer Brahmaputra River, one of Asia's largest, to burst its banks in Assam, forcing thousands into government relief camps.
The floodwaters have submerged 21,523 hectares of cropland, damaging agricultural areas across the affected districts. Nearly 17,000 livestock have been affected, while more than 11,000 animals have been washed away.
"People cannot return to their homes as their houses have either been damaged or filled with mud and silt," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media on Wednesday, adding that floodwaters have receded in many areas.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation on Wednesday and assured the state of federal assistance for relief and restoration efforts, media reports said.
Meanwhile, as rescue operations continue, the India Meteorological Department has issued an alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms from Thursday through Saturday in isolated parts of Assam and the neighboring states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
The warning has raised concerns that vulnerable districts could face renewed flooding in the coming days.
Welcome to our coverage
Deaths in the devastating floods in northeastern India's Assam state have climbed to 78, as more than 300,000 people in seven districts remain affected.
Meanwhile, India's weather agency has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms over the next two days in isolated areas across Assam.
The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament has seen another stormy day, with opposition lawmakers protesting police action during this month's 'Cockroach' youth-led demonstrations and an embezzlement controversy surrounding the Ram Temple, a flagship project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Stay tuned as we bring you all this and more.