Baralimari village in Assam's Laharighat has been witnessing alarming riverbank erosion caused by the Brahmaputra River.
The unchecked erosion has already swallowed more than 60 houses and a 30-year-old mosque, plunging the affected families into despair and homelessness.
Despite several protests and extensive media coverage, the Water Resources Department and the concerned minister have remained inactive. While Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi and Laharighat MLA Asif Nazar visited the area recently, locals claim that their presence resulted in nothing more than hollow promises.
“The officials come, give assurances, and leave. But no real steps are taken to protect us,” said a distraught resident. The Water Resources Department had initially made a temporary attempt to contain the erosion with bamboo barriers, but abruptly stopped all work under unclear circumstances, drawing criticism and suspicion.
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Among the worst losses is a long-standing mosque that had stood for three decades before being washed away. Over 60 families have lost their homes, land, and sense of security. Many now wander helplessly, uncertain of where to go or how to rebuild their lives.
Nearly 150 meters of land has eroded in just 10 days. A local school—where many children once dreamt of building their future—is now only 100 meters away from the riverbank and faces the real threat of being completely wiped out.
Residents are demanding immediate intervention and a long-term solution, accusing both elected leaders and the Water Resources Department of negligence. The silence of the authorities has only deepened the suffering of those caught in this continuing disaster.