Floods in Assam’s Nalbari district have worsened, leaving 45,000 residents from 108 villages stranded as their homes lie underwater, the consequences of heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring Bhutan.
Residents from these villages, predominantly from Moiraranga and Batahghila, are taking refuge in temporary shelters on roads and embankments. The Pagladiya River’s water level has surged past the danger mark, inundating areas previously unscathed.
In the districts of Ghograpar, Tihu, Barbhag, and Dhamdhama, the floodwaters have engulfed around 90 villages. Residents have had to abandon their homes, making do with makeshift shelters on higher ground. Manoj Rajbongshi, a resident of Moiraranga, relayed his family’s situation, now forced to live on an embankment with their house flooded and property damaged. Another villager, Jyotish Rajbongshi, expressed despair at the loss of all his household belongings due to the flood.
Over 310 hectares of farmland have been submerged in the district, while infrastructure has suffered, including the damage of two embankments, 15 roads, bridges, culverts, and agri bundh. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports that numerous rivers in the area are overflowing due to torrential rains in Assam, neighbouring states, and Bhutan. Around 44707 people have been affected in Nalbari district, with over 1.07 lakh domestic animals and poultry also affected. Rescue teams from NDRF, SDRF, and Fire and Emergency Services have evacuated 1280 people from the hardest-hit areas.
Assam is located in the northeastern region of India and is surrounded by the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya. The region also borders Bhutan and Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra, one of Asia’s largest rivers, flows through Assam, along with several of its tributaries.
