Flood devastation continues to haunt Assam's Dhemaji a week later

The impact of the recent floods continues to be felt in Madhupur village under the Jonai Assembly constituency in Assam's Dhemaji district, where widespread destruction has left residents struggling to rebuild their lives more than a week after the disaster.

The Dikhari River, which originates in the hills of Arunachal Pradesh, changed its course during the floods, carving a new channel through Madhupur village and effectively splitting the settlement into two. The sudden shift in the river's course buried houses, agricultural land and a school under thick layers of mud, sand and debris.

Residents said the floods washed away homes, livestock and standing crops, leaving many families without shelter or livelihoods.

"Our homes and belongings are gone. Farming has been completely destroyed, and there isn't even a place to sit anymore. We have put up a temporary shelter on raised poles and are surviving on the limited relief provided by the government," a resident of Madhupur village said.

The villager added that the Dikhari River had previously flowed on the opposite side of the village but changed its course during the floods, causing extensive damage to residential areas.

"This river wasn't here before. It used to flow on the other side, but now it has shifted close to our homes. Our houses have been destroyed, our livestock was washed away, and electricity has also been disrupted as power lines have been snapped," the resident said.

Many affected families continue to live in makeshift shelters as restoration work and relief efforts remain underway in the flood-ravaged village.