Devastating Floods Ravage Assam: A Family's Heartbreaking Loss

In the wake of catastrophic flooding in Assam, India, the devastating impact continues to unfold, with families grappling with loss and destruction. Debiram Panika, a 37-year-old daily wage laborer, experienced the horror firsthand when he received a video call from his wife, Dipika, on July 19. As waters surged from the Dikhow River, she uttered a chilling farewell, claiming, 'This is it for us. We are going to die,' before the call abruptly ended. The floodwaters claimed Dipika and their four-year-old daughter Radhika, leaving Panika searching for closure in the ruins of their home.

The floods, triggered by relentless rain from July 18 to July 20, submerged parts of Upper Assam and neighboring Nagaland, resulting in over 100 fatalities and displacing approximately 700,000 individuals. Local authorities report that 1.2 million people were affected by this calamity.

Despite the waters receding, Panika's anguish is palpable as he continues to search for Radhika's body. 'I look for Radhika every day in the bushes, tirelessly,' he shared, his eyes filled with tears. His ten-year-old daughter, Ridhika, was at a relative's home when the disaster struck, managing to survive by clinging to a bamboo bush.

The devastation was widespread; entire villages were obliterated, leaving behind piles of debris and uprooted trees. Kukil Das, a local vlogger, described the flood as 'like a tsunami,' recalling how trees up to 40 meters tall were uprooted and swept away, destroying everything in their path. He and his friends used boats to rescue approximately 1,000 people over the course of two harrowing days.

Many residents sought refuge on rooftops, as the floodwaters rose rapidly. Laxmi Sharma, who provided shelter to 60 people on her terrace, recalled the moment with fear: 'We thought we were going to die.' The bond of humanity shone through in tragic circumstances, exemplified by the story of Reihana Ahmed and her friend Ratul Swarna, who, despite not knowing how to swim, jumped into the floodwaters to save her. Both later lost their lives.

Residents have observed the environmental changes that contributed to this disaster, with Biren Gogoi pointing to rampant stone and sand mining, as well as deforestation in the region. Reports indicate that Nagaland lost 14% of its tree cover from 2002 to 2025, exacerbating the impact of heavy rains.

While some officials, including Mon’s Deputy Commissioner, downplay the mining's role, others, like Debabrata Saikia, a legislator from the opposition Congress party, argue that illegal excavations have led to a man-made disaster. Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, attributed the flooding to excessive rainfall, with others suggesting climate change as a contributing factor.

Experts like Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman, a researcher on the Brahmaputra basin, assert that while climate factors may have played a role, the flooding was primarily human-made, driven by destructive mining practices that compromised the river's natural defenses. An official document from 2022 also identified mining as a potential cause of significant flooding downstream.

As Assam grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, the stories of loss and resilience continue to emerge, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices to prevent future tragedies.

Source: www.aljazeera.com