Critical Erosion Threatens Biswanath Ghat-Panpur Embankment

The Biswanath Ghat-Panpur embankment is in grave danger due to severe erosion from the Brahmaputra River, with locals urging immediate protective measures. Residents report significant land loss and fear for their safety and livelihoods. A satellite study highlights a broader erosion crisis in Assam, with thousands of hectares of agricultural land affected. The community calls for urgent action to prevent a potential disaster as they express frustration over the lack of long-term solutions from authorities. This situation underscores the pressing need for effective measures to protect vulnerable areas from ongoing erosion.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 22, 2026, 16:46 IST

Erosion Crisis at Biswanath Ghat-Panpur

Massive river bank erosion threatens breech at Biswanath Ghat-Panpur embankment (Photo: AT)

Biswanath, Sept 22: The embankment at Biswanath Ghat-Panpur is under severe threat from erosion, with the Brahmaputra River now alarmingly close—approximately 10 meters—from breaching this crucial area near Solmari village.

A local resident impacted by the erosion described the situation as dire, noting that on Tuesday morning, the river's strong currents rapidly eroded the bank.

“In 2014, anti-erosion measures were implemented, which kept the area safe for some time. However, the current powerful currents have eroded nearly 200 meters of land,” the resident reported.

He cautioned that if the erosion persists at this pace, the embankment could be compromised, urging authorities to deploy large geo-bags to safeguard the vulnerable section.

“If another 10 to 12 meters are lost, the embankment between Biswanath Ghat and Panpur will be completely washed away. We demand immediate action from the administration to deploy mega geo-bags. The situation is extremely critical,” he added.

This embankment is vital for the communities in Biswanath Chariali, Sootea, and Jamugurihat, and residents are anxious that a breach could endanger hundreds of lives and properties.

Some locals have pointed fingers at negligence and inadequacies in past anti-erosion efforts, which have exacerbated the situation, leading to sleepless nights as the Brahmaputra inches closer to the embankment.

“There have been flaws in the anti-erosion initiatives taken here, and we had voiced our concerns previously, but they were ignored,” the resident claimed.

The increasing erosion has reignited long-standing worries among residents about the absence of a permanent solution to this issue.

“Governments may change in Dispur, and ministers and MLAs may come and go, but the plight of those living by the river remains the same,” residents lamented, expressing frustration over their unfulfilled demands for a lasting resolution.

These local issues are part of a broader erosion crisis affecting Assam.

A satellite analysis revealed that over 30,000 hectares of agricultural land were lost to riverbank erosion from 2016 to 2024, with Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari, Morigaon, and Goalpara identified as significant erosion hotspots.

The study conducted by the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) indicated that a total of 67,580.55 hectares were impacted by river erosion across the surveyed districts during the eight-year span.

Out of this, 30,289.45 hectares, or 44.82 percent, consisted of agricultural land, underscoring the escalating threat to floodplain agriculture and rural livelihoods.