When the Brahmaputra Rises, It Washes Away More Than Homes

By

Aaryan Bora, Political Reporter

The people of the Northern state of Assam in India have lived with floods for generations and have become accustomed to them. Every monsoon season, the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries used to swell beyond their banks, inundating villages, destroying crops, and forcing thousands of people to leave their homes and seek relief camps for food and shelter. Flooding is one of the major factors in the state’s geography, but what unfolded in July was heartbreaking for residents of Assam.

18-year-old Saline Patro from Jorhat stated that "the floods took everything from us."

She and her family decided to leave Jorhat; however, when she returned to their home to collect belongings, the family's home was destroyed by the flood. Now they are living at a relief camp with hope to return soon. 

Around 600,000 people have been affected by the floods, with around 68 people having lost their lives.

Assam is very much prone to floods, and around 40% of the state lies within the flood-prone zone where the Brahmaputra flows through the world's largest river valleys. Every year, the monsoon rain comes from the Himalayas, and it pours from the hills to the 50 tributaries before joining the main river. 

The overdeposition of sand and silt is used to reduce the river’s holding capacity and causes the river to overflow. 

Scientists around the world are examining how it is affecting the state of Assam, and many argue that the disaster is a negative impact because of climate change; however, there are more factors, such as the lack of a proper drainage system. 

To fight against such disasters in the future, the government of Assam should make important decisions as soon as possible, such as stronger embankments, scientific river management and good weather forecasting to fight against floods.

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