Everything swept away by flood: Assam families recount horror of sudden deluge

Sivasagar:) For several families in Assam’s Khat Pathar area, the devastating flash flood brought not just rising waters but the destruction of entire livelihoods. Triggered by incessant rainfall, the floodwaters surged through villages with little warning, leaving residents with no time to save their homes, livestock, or possessions.

Families from Namtial Darikapar in Khat Pathar watched helplessly as the water engulfed everything they had built over decades. Even after moving their belongings to higher ground in a desperate attempt to protect them, the relentless floodwaters swallowed nearly everything.

Many residents remained stranded in chest-deep water for almost eight hours before being rescued. Their survival came thanks to a local resident who risked his own life and navigated the dangerous currents by boat to reach those trapped by the flood.

Now, displaced from their homes, the affected families are spending another night under temporary shelters set up along the national highway. Their houses remain submerged, and uncertainty looms large over when they will be able to return home.

The disaster has left them struggling for even the most basic necessities. Food, clean drinking water, clothing, and medicines are in short supply. For families with elderly and sick members, the situation has become even more distressing as essential medicines remain inaccessible.

The flood has also left behind countless stories of survival and heartbreak. One elderly man spent an entire night perched atop his granary after floodwaters surrounded his home. He was rescued only the next day when another villager managed to reach him by boat.

Today, the pain of loss is visible on every face. Many residents broke down in tears while recounting the ordeal. The cries of elderly women who have lost their homes, livestock, and treasured belongings paint a grim picture of the human cost of the disaster.

Behind every submerged house lies a story of shattered dreams, hard-earned savings washed away, and memories lost forever. Yet amid the devastation, families continue to cling to hope, waiting for assistance and a chance to rebuild their lives.

Speaking to IANS, one resident said, “Our house is completely flooded. We are facing severe shortages of food, drinking water, and other essential items. Some help has come from local people, but we still need much more support.”

Another resident recalled the terrifying speed of the floodwaters.

“The water came with such force that within an hour to an hour and a half, our entire house was submerged. We could not save a single belonging. We had five cows and 12 goats, and 10 of them died. We also had 18 dogs, all of which were swept away by the flood,” the resident said.

Another said, “Floodwaters have submerged our entire house and bedding. Due to the water level inside the house reaching waist-deep, I have not been able to sleep properly for the past week.”

Meanwhile, earlier on July 27, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the recent floods that devastated large parts of the state were unlike conventional monsoon floods and were triggered by exceptionally high rainfall, resulting in extensive damage even in areas that are normally considered safe from inundation.

Talking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the scale and nature of this year’s floods were unprecedented, attributing the disaster to rainfall that was more than 400 per cent above normal in several parts of the state.

CM Sarma said the floodwaters did not spread primarily because of overflowing rivers, but due to intense rainfall over a short period, which inundated villages and urban areas that had historically remained outside the flood-prone belt.

–IANS