Western Assam: Five Districts Declared Drought-Hit

Quick Summary

• Assam Chief Minister himanta Biswa Sarma declared five districts in western Assam – baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, and Kokrajhar – as drought-hit following a Cabinet meeting on July 23, 2025.
• These districts experienced a rainfall deficit of 40% over the past month during the onset of the monsoon.
• Farmers with crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will be eligible for compensation.
• A review meeting on July 19 classified 27 districts in Assam as rainfall deficit zones. Fourteen where identified as high-rainfall deficit areas requiring urgent action.
• Senior officials have been tasked to identify and demarcate affected regions for initiating drought-declaration procedures.
• on July 22, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora sought central support from Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan; the Union Minister plans to visit Assam soon for assessment.
• Northeast India faces broader rain shortfalls this season; Meghalaya’s iconic Sohra and Mawsynram have experienced substantially reduced rainfall compared to previous years.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The declaration of drought in five western districts highlights an emerging agricultural crisis associated with irregular monsoon patterns exacerbated by climate variations across northeast India.This alert finds resonance not just locally but regionally; Meghalaya’s notable reduction in precipitation further underscores a worrying environmental trend that could impact water resources and agriculture sustainability long term.

The involvement of central government agencies reflects constructive state-center collaboration at this stage; however, focused implementation on compensating affected farmers swiftly via schemes like PMFBY remains critical for livelihoods dependent heavily hear rural Goods-service loops