Sivasagar District Faces Unusual Flood Dynamics This Monsoon

Flood Impact in Sivasagar

Dikhowmukh (Sivasagar), Aug 2: This monsoon season has brought an unexpected twist to the flood situation in Sivasagar district. Traditionally flood-affected areas like Desangmukh, Dikhowmukh, and Rupohimukh have largely avoided inundation this year, instead serving as a refuge for farmers and families from the severely impacted eastern regions.

Local residents report that villages from Gaurisagar to Rupohimukh along the Bor Ali road experienced minimal flooding, despite heavy rainfall in the district and nearby Nagaland.

“There was hardly any flooding from Gaurisagar to Rupohimukh. In Nadisial and Krishnasiga, only a few homes faced waterlogging, but it was not critical,” noted social worker Satyajit Saikia from Rupohimukh.

The situation is particularly striking given that Desangmukh, Dikhowmukh, and Rupohimukh are situated along the Brahmaputra and near tributaries like the Desang, Dikhow, and Rupohi rivers, which have historically made them vulnerable to floods.

Last month, the water levels of the Dikhow and Desang rivers reached unprecedented heights.

However, villagers believe that the flood patterns in the district have changed due to the deterioration of natural drainage channels that once directed runoff from the eastern foothills of Nagaland towards the Brahmaputra.

“The Rupohijan and Borlur channels used to facilitate water flow from the east to the Brahmaputra. Borlur emptied into the Mitong river, while Rupohijan flowed directly into the Brahmaputra. Today, many sections are encroached or nearly blocked. They have degraded over the years, yet no restoration efforts have been made,” Saikia explained.

With their fields remaining mostly unaffected, residents of Rupohimukh have begun assisting those in more severely impacted areas. Local youth have initiated the establishment of kathiatolis (paddy nurseries) across nearly 50 bighas to provide seedlings to farmers who lost their crops due to flooding. Seeds have been supplied by the Assam Agricultural University and the State agriculture department.

“Ploughing has commenced. This is the first time we are raising a nursery on such a large scale. Additionally, villagers are sending cattle fodder, baby food, clothing, and cooked meals to those affected by the floods,” Saikia added.

Official estimates indicate that approximately 28,000 hectares of agricultural land out of Sivasagar’s total of 68,000 hectares have been damaged since the latest flooding began on July 19. Over 400 of the 560-plus villages in Sivasagar have been impacted.

Residents attribute the relatively lower flooding in the western riverine belt to the Brahmaputra's lower water levels this year and government-implemented anti-erosion measures. However, many claim that the newly constructed national highway has disrupted the district's natural drainage, trapping floodwaters in eastern Sivasagar.

“The Brahmaputra's water level has remained low, allowing the Desang river to drain effectively. Last year, flooding was much more severe along the banks. This time, there was only a brief surge that lasted a day or two,” stated Nilambor Sarkar, a Desangmukh resident.

While the western floodplains have stayed relatively dry, significant portions of eastern Sivasagar and neighboring Demow have remained submerged for the fourteenth consecutive day. Thousands of residents are still seeking shelter on rooftops, at relatives’ homes, lodges, and even along roadsides. Some areas in Sivasagar town have experienced flooding for the first time.

Ratul Gogoi, a Betbari resident in Demow, described the flooding as unprecedented.

“There was severe flooding in 1988, but even then, the water did not reach knee-deep levels. This time, it rose seven to eight feet in a short span. The newly constructed raised national highway obstructed water flow, preventing it from spreading across the fields. There are only two small culverts in our area, which are inadequate for draining floodwater from Betbari,” he remarked.

Although rainfall has subsided over the past week, sporadic showers have persisted. The Sivasagar Automatic Weather Station recorded 28 mm of rain on July 26, no rain on July 27 and 28, followed by 3 mm on July 29, 17 mm on July 30, and 11 mm on July 31. Sonari recorded 19 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.