Kathmandu— Torrential rains between July 18 and July 20 triggered devastating floods across India’s Assam state, resulting in over 100 deaths, the destruction of 2,700 villages, and the displacement of approximately 700,000 people. The flooding, which impacted both Assam and neighboring Nagaland, was particularly severe in Upper Assam where swollen rivers surged through communities, sweeping away homes and livelihoods. Residents describe the event as a ‘tsunami’ and point to unchecked deforestation and mining activities as major contributing factors to the scale of the disaster.

A Family's Loss

Debiram Panika, a daily wage laborer, received devastating news on July 19th when his wife Dipika and four-year-old daughter Radhika were swept away by rising waters from the Dikhow River. He recounted receiving a frantic video call from his wife moments before the connection was lost, hearing her say they would not survive. While their ten-year-old daughter Ridhika was rescued after clinging to a bamboo bush, the search for Radhika’s body continues. Panika now tirelessly searches through debris, haunted by his daughter's last words calling him 'Papa'.

‘Apocalyptic Event’ and Rescue Efforts

The floods transformed riverine villages in Sivasagar district into scenes of devastation, littered with tree trunks carried down from the Naga Hills. Kukil Das, a local vlogger, described the event as ‘apocalyptic’, noting that trees up to 130 feet tall were washed away, destroying homes and rice fields. Das, along with his friend Shravan Prasad, organized a rescue effort using seven boats, saving an estimated 1,000 lives over two days without food or water. Residents sought shelter on the roofs of concrete buildings as floodwaters engulfed their neighborhoods.

Blame Shifts to Human Activity

While monsoon rains are common in Assam, residents and experts believe this year’s floods were exacerbated by human activity. Biren Gogoi points to rampant stone and sand mining, deforestation, and coal extraction in Nagaland as key factors contributing to the disaster. Satellite imagery confirms significant tree cover loss in Nagaland's Mon district, and evidence of extensive mining operations on both sides of the Assam-Nagaland border. Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman, a researcher specializing in the Brahmaputra river basin, argues that unrestrained stone extraction has damaged the river’s natural ability to absorb floodwaters.

Political Accusations and Government Response

Opposition legislator Debabrata Saikia accused Assam's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of allowing illegal excavations along the Dikhow River, worsening the flooding. He stated that unchecked plundering of riverbeds and hills had engineered a ‘man-made disaster.’ Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma refuted these claims, attributing the floods to heavy rainfall in Nagaland, while cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu blamed climate change. Despite acknowledging potential illegal mining, Mon’s Deputy Commissioner Wennyei Konyak cited Indigenous tribal rights as limiting government intervention.

As waters recede, Assam faces a long road to recovery, with hundreds of thousands displaced and livelihoods destroyed. The debate over the causes of the flooding continues, highlighting the need for sustainable land management practices and responsible resource extraction.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.