Assam Floods: Sivasagar Residents Confront Ruin as Record Waters Recede

A Night of Survival on Floating Furniture

In the aftermath of the most severe flooding to hit Assam this year, residents of Sivasagar are returning to homes buried under several inches of silt. Among those who narrowly escaped the July 19 surge were Mukul Bezbora, a retired professor from Gargaon College, and his wife Bonti. The septuagenarian couple spent 12 hours perched atop a wooden divan as it floated inside their home in Nazira. The incoming torrent, which began around 8 p.m., was powerful enough to overturn heavy appliances, including their refrigerator and wardrobes.

By the time administrative rescue boats reached them on the morning of July 20, the couple had lost all communication after their mobile batteries failed. Mr. Bezbora, a resident of the town since 1992, noted that the scale of this disaster was unprecedented in local memory. While he has since cleared two truckloads of mud from his residence, many of his belongings remain unsalvageable. Despite his personal losses, the retired academic highlighted the plight of those who have lost their entire livelihoods in the disaster, calling for swift state intervention.

Human Impact and Regional Devastation

The 2026 flood season has exacted a heavy toll, with the state-wide death count reaching 68. At the height of the crisis, more than six lakh people were affected. In the ONGC Colony, Madhusmita Borthakur faced a similar crisis while her husband was away on field duty. Trapped with her two young daughters, aged nine and three, she watched the water rise rapidly before managing to evacuate in an open van. They found temporary shelter at a friend's house in a nearby area that remained dry.

The scale of the destruction is evidenced by data and accounts from across the district:

• Large-scale infrastructure damage was reported near Simaluguri railway station, where tracks were submerged and damaged.
• In Bihubar, flash floods from the Dikhow River were strong enough to sweep away vehicles.
• The peak of the deluge saw thousands of families lose basic electricity and communication for days.

The Long Road to Rehabilitation

While the waters have begun to retreat, the emotional and physical labor of rebuilding has just started. In many areas, such as the Sibasagar district center, a thick layer of debris remains as a reminder of the Dikhow River's power. For many, the initial fear of the rising water has been replaced by the daunting reality of financial ruin. Families continue to sift through the wreckage of their homes, searching for anything that can be saved from the mud left behind by the departing currents.

Source: The Hindu — Home