Assam Floods Displace Thousands; CM Attributes Cause To Lack Of Chinese Reservoirs On Border

The flood situation in Assam has escalated, impacting more than 18 lakh people across 2,800 villages in 29 districts. So far, 46 fatalities have been reported, with ongoing rain alerts in most districts.

Over 25,000 people are residing in relief camps, while 3,61,206 individuals have organized their own relief on embankments. Criticism has arisen regarding the government’s handling of the crisis, with groups like All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) attributing major embankment breaches, like at Hatimara on the Kolong river, to poor construction quality.

Mriganka Shekhar Bharali from AASU lamented, “The breach of embankments has caused flooding after seven years. Despite the 2017 devastation, the Kolong river was artificially constrained. In June, attempts to restore flow with a sluice gate failed due to incompetence among engineers, contractors, and the government, leading to widespread flooding.”

In response, Minister Keshab Mahanta acknowledged, “Floods break numerous embankments, not just here but statewide. An inquiry will address these breaches.”

During CNN-News18’s visit to flood-affected Nagaon, many in self-arranged camps protested uneven relief distribution. Currently, 25,744 are in camps, including 4,697 children and 9,874 women, while 3,61,206, including 80,854 children and 1,22,126 women, are outside.

Phulamala Das, 80, stated, “We haven’t seen floods in seven years. How could we prepare? Government neglect left us without water; NGOs provide essential aid.”

Ila Kalita, in a roadside camp, lamented, “Our house and fields are destroyed; livestock swept away. No government aid; how will we survive?”

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed Assam’s floods to Arunachal Pradesh’s overflow, affecting upper Assam. Regarding Chinese-built reservoirs, he commented, “Only China can prevent Assam floods reaching Bangladesh.”

Sarma inspected affected areas, with ongoing rain alerts and rivers above danger levels across Assam and Northeast.