Kathmandu— When floodwaters rushed into the Nepali Khuti area of Sivasagar district in Assam on July 19, local villagers stepped up with just six handmade boats to save more than 1,000 lives from five affected villages. The water rose rapidly, forcing families onto rooftops and trees, and these brave locals risked their own safety to rescue stranded residents.

The Speed of Disaster

Chouhan Choudhury, one of the rescuers, described how quickly the situation escalated. “We were at home when the water came so fast,” he said. “We started saving others using boats. We rescued people whose houses were torn apart and took them to town.” The group worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the night, making multiple trips without food or rest.

Risking Lives for Others

Many of the rescuers put their own lives on hold once they ensured their families were safe. Kanahaiya Choudhury explained that after dropping his family off in a safer area, he turned back to help others. “We got calls that people were stuck and needed saving,” he said. Rajkumar Rajbir continued the rescue efforts well past midnight, leaving again at dawn to save more lives.

Community Spirit Prevails

Mohan Choudhury highlighted the selfless nature of their actions. “We thought our lives may go, but saving people was more important,” he said. Mithu Choudhury added that by 12 PM on July 19, floodwaters had entered his home, prompting immediate action to evacuate family and neighbors. The community’s response underscored the importance of local initiative in disaster relief efforts.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.