Assam Floods: Second Wave Hits Lakhimpur, Roads Severely Damaged

In the last 24 hours, the second wave of floods has caused significant damage in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, disrupting lives and infrastructure. Triggered by continuous overnight rainfall in both Lakhimpur and the adjoining hills of Arunachal Pradesh, rivers in the region have swelled beyond their capacity. As a result, they have overflowed and inundated vast stretches of residential areas and agricultural land, leading to widespread destruction.

On Wednesday, the Gabharu River witnessed a dramatic rise in water levels. The river breached an agricultural bund at Rangajan-Mazgaon under the jurisdiction of the Uttar Laluk Gaon Panchayat. This breach caused the river to divert from its usual course and take a new path, flooding the entire areas of Tunijan and Dhekiajuli-Christiangaon. The sudden redirection of the river’s flow brought water into low-lying villages, causing panic and property damage.

The new path carved by the Gabharu River also heavily affected Garmur village, which falls under the Nowboicha Revenue Circle. Other villages including Phoolbari, Pub Laluk, Pukhuria, and nearby settlements also came under water due to the rising flood levels. Two culverts in the region were reported damaged, adding to the disruption in local transport and connectivity. These structural damages have hindered movement and emergency relief efforts in the affected areas.

Further exacerbating the crisis, on Monday, the floodwaters from the Sesa River caused breaches in the under-construction Simaluguri-Hawajan PWD road at two different points. This particular road is part of the Assam Mala scheme, which aims to improve rural road connectivity across the state. The breaches have dealt a blow to infrastructure development in the region. The floodwaters entered several villages including Sesa-Misinggaon, Photabhog, and Nowghuli by flowing through an open section of the Sesa embankment, which lies within the Narayanpur Revenue Circle.

The deluge has also had a devastating effect on agriculture. Vast areas of newly planted sali paddy fields have been submerged under floodwaters, and many of the seedlings prepared for transplantation have been destroyed. This is expected to severely impact the livelihood of farmers in the district, many of whom depend on rice cultivation as their primary source of income. The destruction of crops at this crucial time in the agricultural cycle may lead to long-term economic challenges for affected communities.

The flood crisis in Lakhimpur highlights the vulnerability of Assam’s flood-prone districts during the monsoon season, especially when combined with excess rainfall from hilly regions like Arunachal Pradesh. The recurring nature of such disasters calls for urgent and effective flood management strategies, improved embankment maintenance, and infrastructure resilience planning to prevent similar large-scale damage in the future. As authorities assess the damage and begin relief work, restoring connectivity, providing aid to displaced families, and supporting affected farmers will be top priorities in the days to come.