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Devastating monsoon floods across Assam, India have claimed over 100 lives and displaced approximately 700,000 people, leaving behind stories of tragedy and loss. The disaster unfolded over three days in mid-July when intense rainfall in the Naga Hills region caused nearby rivers to overflow catastrophically. The deluge particularly impacted Upper Assam, where villages were inundated by powerful currents carrying massive debris from the surrounding hills.
Among those affected is Debiram Panika, a 37-year-old laborer who received a final video call from his wife moments before floodwaters from the Dikhow River destroyed their home. His wife and young daughter were swept away by the surging waters, and despite ongoing searches, his daughter’s body remains missing. Similar tragedies occurred throughout the region, including the deaths of two friends who drowned when one attempted to rescue the other from the rising waters.
Despite the overwhelming destruction, communities demonstrated remarkable resilience. Local residents used available boats to rescue approximately 1,000 people during the height of the crisis, while others provided shelter to dozens on rooftops of concrete structures that withstood the deluge. The floods destroyed 2,700 villages and displaced entire livelihoods, as massive tree trunks and debris buried agricultural lands that residents depend upon for survival.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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