Assam floods : What more would be washed away?
Assam floods: The massive downpour had not only deluged around 63,970 hectares of agricultural land but also have inundated 10,000 houses in 1790 villages and still the number is ongoing, as per ASDMA.
Assam,the North Eastern state of India, is witnessing the time of floods, where 9 have lost their lives and more than 7 lakh people have been affected across 24 districts. The massive downpour had not only deluged around 63,970 hectares of agricultural land but also have inundated 10,000 houses in 1790 villages and still the number is ongoing, as per ASDMA. The forest department had helped in construction of up to 40 highlands to save animals of reserves in the state during the flood and for the human lives 55 relief camps had been set up in 7 districts.
Till now, 7,17,046 people across 29 districts affected due to the flood situation in the state. 9 people have died in floods & landslides, so far: Assam State Disaster Management Authority — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2022
What lies a question of doubt? Why these floods ?
This basically is not something that is happening for the first time in the time course. Brahmaputra, one the largest rivers in India passing through the Assam dissects it into two halves, there had been times in the past, when people used to welcome the first floods of season which did more good than bad to the land. But the Chemayungdung glacier melting clubbed with the climate change and monsoons, had increased the level of water flowing through Brahmaputra and river bank encroachments had worsened it more by intensifying its havoc. Government in the past had spent more than 30k crores in the past 60 years in building embankments on the river Brahmaputra to tame it at some places but it accelerates the speed of water making it stronger enough to destroy many others.
Himanshu Thakkar, head of South Asia Network on Dams, River and people ( SANDRP) suggests to strengthen the embankments of only those areas where it's extremely needed and to not further aggravate the situation .Brahmaputra and its clash with monsoon cannot be changed what can be worked on is the way we deal with situation, the meteorological departments can provide earliest forecasting to the people in low lying areas to deal with the incessant rains. Short term plans are many but the sustainable approach to this calamity is only working diligently to conserve nature. A thing one needs to remember is every natural process is boon unless the anthropological factors don't hinder them.
