Assam: Fakirganj protesters block road, demand permanent solution to Brahmaputra erosion

Residents of Wahhab Bazar Tinali near the Namachala River in Fakirganj, South Salmara, staged a road blockade on Wednesday, May 1 pressing for immediate and permanent measures to curb the intensifying erosion caused by the Brahmaputra River.

Organized under the banner of the Fakirganj Permanent Prevention of Erosion Struggle Committee, the protest brought vehicular movement to a standstill for nearly two hours. Demonstrators, armed with placards, voiced deep concern over the worsening river breaches that have already displaced hundreds in recent days.

Locals alleged that despite repeated pleas, government authorities have failed to initiate lasting solutions to the persistent erosion, which they claim now threatens to wipe out entire neighborhoods, including Wahhab Bazar and adjoining areas. Protesters underscored that the erosion is not only rendering families homeless but is also posing a grave risk to the region’s future.

“The situation is grim. Families are being uprooted overnight as the river continues to claim more land,” said a member of the committee, demanding urgent intervention.

The blockade was lifted after two hours following mediation by Fakirganj police. However, the agitators have issued a stern warning, vowing to escalate their protests if their calls for permanent anti-erosion measures continue to go unheeded.