Better if the flood had killed us: Sivasagar families struggle to rebuild lives after devastating Assam floods

As floodwaters gradually recede in Assam's Sivasagar district, survivors are grappling with the loss of homes, livestock and livelihoods, with many saying they are uncertain how they will rebuild their lives after one of the worst floods in recent memory.

Among the worst-hit is 50-year-old Rajen Pradhan of Nepali Khuti village under the Nazira Assembly constituency, whose family lost dozens of cows and their only source of income after the devastating floods struck on July 19.

"Our home is near the Dikhow River. We had never witnessed such a flood in our lifetime. It washed away our cows, and selling milk was our only livelihood. We used to sell nearly 300 litres of milk every day. Now we are completely helpless and don't know how we will start life again," Rajen Pradhan told ANI.

He said his family survived only after taking shelter on the roof of their house as floodwaters rapidly engulfed the village.

"It would have been better if this flood had also killed us. We are alive, but it has taken away everything we had," he said.

The devastation extends across Nepali Khuti village, where many families have been left homeless after floodwaters either washed away or severely damaged their houses and destroyed household belongings accumulated over years.

Seventy-year-old Bhimlal Giri said he had never experienced such destruction before.

"I have never seen this kind of flood in my entire life. My house was completely destroyed," he said.

Although water levels have begun to recede, thick layers of mud continue to cover homes, roads and agricultural land, making daily life extremely difficult for residents. Roads connecting Nepali Khuti and nearby villages remain blocked with mud and debris, delaying normal transportation and recovery efforts.

The district administration and various government departments are continuing road clearance and restoration work across the affected areas.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the death toll from this year's floods has risen to 82.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 31 thanked industrialist Gautam Adani for contributing Rs 11 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to support ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts for flood-affected families across the state.