Assam: Brahmaputra erosion intensifies at Dhubrir Char, over 300 residents face displacement threat

Severe riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra has intensified at Dhubrir Char village in Assam’s Dhubri district, putting more than 300 residents at risk of losing their homes, land and livelihoods as the river continues to eat into the settlement.

The village is located around 200 to 300 metres from the historic Ashokastami Mela Ground. Residents said large portions of the riverside land have been collapsing into the river, raising concerns that continued erosion could force widespread displacement if preventive measures are not taken urgently.

With erosion advancing rapidly, local residents have pooled around Rs 80,000 to procure bamboo, ropes and other materials to construct temporary anti-erosion structures, including bamboo porcupines and palisades. Such structures can help trap silt and temporarily reduce the speed of river currents, but residents said they are unlikely to withstand the Brahmaputra’s force during major surges.

Residents fear that if the current rate of erosion continues, a substantial part of the settlement could be lost within a short period. The impact is also expected to extend beyond homes and agricultural land, with damaged connectivity potentially affecting students travelling to schools and colleges.

The location of Dhubrir Char, close to Dhubri town, has also raised concerns about the wider implications of continued erosion. Residents and local stakeholders fear that further changes in the river’s course could bring the Brahmaputra closer to the urban area and increase the pressure on surrounding infrastructure.

Affected families have urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and local authorities to take immediate steps to check the erosion, strengthen vulnerable stretches and protect the settlement and its residents from further land loss.

The situation has underscored the need for sustained anti-erosion measures along the vulnerable stretch of the Brahmaputra, particularly as the river continues to threaten habitation and connectivity in the area.