Assam Floods
(Excursions)
Workout
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
1. The Kaziranga National Park and .................. were affected by the 2016 Assam floods.
a. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. [✓]
b. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary. [ ]
c. Gir National Park. [ ]
d. Ranthambore National Park. [ ]
2. Assam receives monsoon rains from ................
a. January to September. [ ]
b. March to September. [ ]
c. December to March. [ ]
d. June to September. [✓]
3. Assam is located in the ............. Himalayas.
a. eastern. [ ]
b. western. [ ]
c. northeastern. [✓]
d. northwestern. [ ]
4. The river Brahmaputra has ................. tributaries.
a. 20. [ ]
b. 15. [ ]
c. 41. [✓]
d. 26. [ ]
5. A total of ............ districts were affected by the Assam floods.
a. 12. [ ]
b. 13. [ ]
c. 22. [✓]
d. 25. [ ]
B. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Explain the reasons that led to the Assam floods of 2016.
= In 2016, Assam experienced unusually heavy monsoon rains, which caused widespread flooding in several districts. Since the state receives seasonal floods during the monsoon (June to September), the situation was worsened that year by excessive rainfall.
Nearly 1.8 million people were affected. Important wildlife areas such as Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were also heavily inundated, leading to significant challenges for the region’s biodiversity.
2. What were the impacts of the Assam floods?
= The Assam floods of 2016 had multiple impacts:
❐ Over 1,100,600 people were affected, particularly those living on riverine islands of the Brahmaputra.
❐ Roads and communication routes were submerged, while some rural roads were blocked by debris from erosion and landslides.
❐ Infrastructure such as bridges and transport networks suffered severe damage.
❐ Majuli, a river island in Jorhat district, was temporarily cut off, leaving thousands without easy access to essential services.
❐ Many families had to leave their homes for safer places, while some struggled to reach relief camps.
3. Why is the river Brahmaputra prone to flooding?
= The Brahmaputra River is prone to flooding because of several reasons:
❐ The Brahmaputra Valley and northeastern hills receive very heavy monsoon rainfall (over 2480 mm annually).
❐ Snowmelt from the river’s Himalayan source near Manasarovar also raises water levels.
❐ Assam lies in a valley of the Eastern Himalayas, where soft rock formations erode easily under fast-flowing water.
❐ The region is seismically active. Past earthquakes, such as the 1950 earthquake, altered the topography and stability of the river basin.
❐ Dense settlements along the riverbanks and construction of bridges and embankments affect the river’s natural flow. Limited drainage facilities also contribute to flooding.
❐ Deforestation has increased silt deposition in the river, reducing its depth and water-carrying capacity.
4. Explain the relief and rescue work carried out by the government during the 2016 Assam floods.
= During the 2016 floods, relief and rescue operations were carried out mainly by the Assam State Disaster Response Force and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), supported by the army. Boats and helicopters were used for evacuations. The government set up around 500 temporary relief centres and 50 distribution centres, where food, clothes, and medicines were provided.
Other important measures included:
❐ Clear definition of responsibilities for officials like district magistrates, block officers, and village panchayats to ensure smooth disaster management.
❐ Special attention to water, sanitation, and health facilities to prevent the spread of diseases.
❐ Greater coordination with national and international organisations (like UNDP, WHO, UNICEF) could further strengthen relief efforts.
❐ Improved flood forecasting, early warning systems, and community preparedness are essential for reducing future risks.