Flooding in Assam's Golaghat District Displaces Families
Impact of Flooding in Golaghat District
12 families from flood-affected areas were staying at a relief camp at Amguri Bochpathar School
Jorhat, Aug 8: Flooding in Assam's Golaghat district has severely impacted several families as the Dhansiri River's water levels surged, leading to the inundation of homes and farmland, and disrupting road access in parts of Sarupathar subdivision.
As of Saturday, a total of 12 families displaced by the floods have taken refuge in a relief camp set up at Amguri Bochpathar School located in the Barpathar area. These families were relocated after floodwaters breached their homes in Amguri village.
Reports from August 7 indicated that floodwaters had affected the residences of 12 families in Amguri, while numerous bighas of agricultural land adjacent to the Dhansiri riverbank were also submerged.
The flooding has also affected the road linking Barbali to Barbali Tup, isolating the area and impacting over 20 families in Barbali Tup.
Residents at the relief camp expressed their concerns, stating that the flooding had devastated their paddy crops, which were cultivated with loans, leaving them anxious about their livelihoods and in need of government aid. A woman from the camp shared, “We arrived here yesterday. There are 12 families here. We cultivate our fields by taking loans, but now the paddy crops have been destroyed, making it difficult for us to make a living. I appeal to the government to compensate us. I am not asking for compensation for previous years, but I urge the government to help us this year by providing compensation.”
The Sarupathar subdivision administration organized temporary accommodations for the affected families at Amguri Bochpathar School on August 7 as the river's levels continued to rise.
A team from the health department also visited the relief camp to offer medical support to the residents. A health official noted that some individuals were experiencing itching, skin issues, and other water-related health problems, although no serious medical cases had been reported thus far.
“Currently, there are 12 families at the camp, and we are doing our best to provide medical assistance. Some individuals are suffering from itching, skin problems, and other water-related ailments,” the official stated, estimating the total number of people at the camp to be 46.
Officials have reported that the Dhansiri River is flowing at elevated levels and have cautioned that further increases could lead to additional flooding in surrounding areas.
The flooding has raised alarms among residents in riverine regions, especially as agricultural fields remain submerged and road access to certain communities has been compromised.
Authorities are actively monitoring the situation and are committed to delivering relief and medical assistance to the families affected by the floods.