The 2020 Assam floods allude to a severe flood occurrence on the Brahmaputra River in the Indian state of Assam that coincided with the COVID-19 epidemic. Flooding began in May 2020 as a result of severe rain, impacting 30,000 people and ruining crops in five regions. As of October 2020, flooding had impacted over five million people, taking the lives of 123 individuals and causing an additional 26 deaths owing to landslides. 5474 villages had been devastated, and over 150 thousand people had sought refuge in relief camps.

1. May – August
2020
Assam Flood
By :- Satya Swaroop Shoo
FAG-BAG-2020-24-047
BSc Agricultural
1st Year, 2nd Semester
Guided By :- Dr Dhaval Kirankumar
Dwivedi

2. 2
2020 Assam floods refers to the significant flood event of the Brahmaputra River in the
Indian north-eastern state of Assam and coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Initial flooding started in May 2020 due to
heavy rainfall
As of October 2020 the floods affected
over 5 million people, claiming the lives
of 123 people, with an additional 26
deaths due to landslides, 5474 villages
were affected
3

4. 4
During the 2020 monsoon season, particularly high
rainfall was experienced across central, north, and
northeast India, with 15 centimeters more rainfall
than usual by the middle of July.
The reason for the excess rainfall is attributed to
Madden Julian Oscillation, thereby causing
prolonged break-monsoon conditions which
decreases the rainfall in North West India and
increases it in North East India

5. 5
The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the largest element of the intraseasonal (30- to 90-day)
variability in the tropical atmosphere. It was discovered in 1971 by Roland Madden and
Paul Julian of the American National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
The Madden–Julian oscillation is characterized by an eastward progression of large regions of
both enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall, observed mainly over the Indian and Pacific
Ocean
The Madden-Julian Oscillation(MJO) , As it's called is a moving band of rain clouds that travel
around the globe spanning 12000-20000 km across the tropical oceans.
Madden Julian Oscillation

6. 6

7. 7
The MJO phases
•Phase 1 – Enhanced convection
(rainfall) develops over the western
Indian Ocean.
•Phase 2 and 3 – Enhanced
convection (rainfall) moves slowly
eastwards over Africa, the Indian
Ocean and parts of the Indian
subcontinent.
•Phase 4 and 5 – Enhanced
convection (rainfall) has reached the
Maritime Continent (Indonesia and
West Pacific)
•Phase 6, 7 and 8 – Enhanced
rainfall moves further eastward over
the western Pacific, eventually dying
out in the central Pacific.
•The next MJO cycle begins

8. 8
By 21 July, the meteorological subdivision of Assam
and Meghalaya had received rainfall of 1,164mm as
compared to normal rainfall of 894mm during the period,
an excess of nearly 30%. The catchment areas of
nearby states, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also
received excess rainfall nearly to the tune of 16% and
45% respectively aggravating the flood situation.
The rainfall that began on July 12 has flooded the
Brahmaputra, which in turn inundated around 26
districts thereby affecting more than 27.8 lakh people
all across the state.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management
Authority (ASDMA), more than 90 people have lost their
lives due to the flood and landslides. The flood has also
submerged almost the entire of the Kaziranga National
Park.

9. 9

10. 10
As of July 15, the 30 Assam districts
that are hit by floods include :-
1. Hojai
2. Dhemaji
3. Lakhimpur
4. Biswanath
5. Sonitpur
6. Udalguri
7. Darrang
8. Baksa
9. Nalbari
10.Barpeta
11.Chirang
12.Bongaigaon
13.Kokrajhar
14.Dhubri
15.South Salmara
16.Goalpara
17.Kamrup
18.Kamrup Metropolitan
19.Morigaon
20.Nagaon
21.West Karbi Anglong
22.Golaghat
23.Jorhat
24.Majuli
25.Sivasagar
26.Dibrugarh
27.Tinsukia
28.Karbi Anglong
29.Cachar
30.Charaideo.

11. 11
1.Climate Change
2.Urbanization
3.Embankments
4.Poor construction
5.Political issues
There are some major reasons for this floods

12. 12
Lessons learned
As a result of the yearly monsoon related destruction, the South Asia Flash
Flood Guidance System (South Asia FFGS) was launched on 23 October
2020 by the World Meteorological Organization. The system will strengthen
coordination of disaster risk reduction and preparedness in Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka through forecasts and early warnings of
dangers related to flash floods with the hope of lessening the loss of life and
damage to property.

13. 13
 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/letsbereal/assam-floods-2020-23481/
 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/atmosphere/madden-julian-
oscillation
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Assam_floods
 https://www.timesnownews.com/india/photo-gallery/assam-flood-2020-photos-45-lakh-
people-affected-as-situation-worsens/621924#:~:text=as%20situation%20worsens-
,Assam%20flood%202020%20photos%3A%20More%20than%202.8%20million%20peopl
e%20affected,26%20districts%20as%20situation%20worsens&text=The%20rainfall%20th
at%20began%20on,people%20all%20across%20the%20state
References

14. THANK YOU!
By :- Satya Swaroop Shoo
FAG-BAG-2020-24-047
BSc Agricultural
1st Year, 2nd Semester
Guided By :- Dr Dhaval Kirankumar
Dwivedi