Survivors Share Heart-Wrenching Tales from Sivasagar Floods

The recent floods in Sivasagar, Assam, have left a trail of devastation, with survivors like Mukul and Bonti Bezbora recounting their harrowing experiences. Stranded for hours on a floating divan, they lost nearly everything. As they return to their home filled with debris, the couple faces the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Others, like Madhusmita Borthakur, also faced terrifying moments as rising waters threatened their safety. With the floodwaters receding, the real struggle begins for many as they work to clear debris and restore their livelihoods. The floods have impacted over six lakh people, with a rising death toll, highlighting the urgent need for rehabilitation efforts.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 13:23 IST

Devastation in Sivasagar: A Struggle for Survival

In flood-ravaged Sivasagar, every journey became a struggle for survival. (Photo:PTI)

Sivasagar, July 28: In the worst-hit district of Assam, Sivasagar, a septuagenarian couple, Mukul and Bonti Bezbora, found themselves stranded for 12 hours on a floating wooden divan as floodwaters engulfed their home, resulting in the loss of nearly all their possessions.

After being cut off from communication due to dead mobile phone batteries, the retired professor and his wife were rescued by boat from Nazira town ten days ago.

Upon returning, they faced the daunting challenge of cleaning their home, which was filled with mud and debris.

"We heard a loud rush of water around 8 pm. There was chaos outside. My wife and I climbed onto an old wooden divan where we had stored quilts. The bedding was soaked, and the divan was floating with us on it," Bezbora recounted about the night of July 19.

Rescue boats sent by the administration reached them the next morning. When the waters receded, they discovered that nearly all their belongings had been ruined.

Since then, two truckloads of mud and debris have been cleared from their residence, yet a layer of two to three inches of silt remains.

"We are uncertain if we can salvage anything," the retired Gargaon College professor expressed.

Having lived in Nazira since 1992, Bezbora stated he had never experienced such severe flooding in the area.

"There has been waterlogging due to heavy rains, but this level of flooding was unimaginable," he added.

Despite his own losses, Bezbora's thoughts were with those who faced even greater challenges.

"I have some resources to rebuild my life. My son has also come to help. However, many are still suffering from the floods and have lost their livelihoods," he urged the authorities to accelerate rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, Madhusmita Borthakur, residing in the ONGC Colony in Sivasagar, faced her own terrifying ordeal.

Although her home was spared from the worst of the flooding, she and her two young daughters were nearly trapped as the waters rose rapidly around them.

With her husband away on duty, Borthakur found herself confined with her nine-year-old and three-year-old daughters as the water levels surged.

Eventually, she managed to escape in an open van and sought refuge with a friend for several days.

The anxiety extended beyond those directly affected by the floods.

A police officer stationed in Guwahati shared his distress over trying to reach his relatives in Sivasagar.

"My sister-in-law and her son live near Simaluguri railway station in Sivasagar. Reports indicated the area was submerged, and the railway tracks were damaged. We were terrified, unable to contact them," he recounted. Relief came two days later when his nephew managed to get through.

Although the floodwaters have started to recede, survivors emphasize that the real challenges are just beginning. Clearing away tons of debris, repairing homes, restoring livelihoods, and coping with the trauma of the disaster are significant hurdles ahead.

The floods, which struck Assam over a week ago, have had a devastating impact on Sivasagar, affecting over six lakh people at their peak, with the death toll rising to 68 this year.