Patients carried on shoulders as roads vanish, ‘Developed Assam’ claim falters in Assam's Sribhumi

The much-touted narrative of a “developed Assam” stands starkly contradicted in the flood-ravaged stretches of North Karimganj in Sribhumi district, where residents are battling a humanitarian and infrastructural crisis. In scenes that underline official neglect, patients are being carried on people’s shoulders through dangerous terrain to reach medical facilities, exposing the grim reality of governance failure in the region.

The North Karimganj Assembly constituency is presently without an active MLA on the ground, leaving thousands of residents stranded amid crumbling infrastructure and rising risks. While the constituency reels under neglect, political focus appears to have shifted elsewhere. Three-time legislator Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, currently suspended from the Congress—is accused of turning his attention to political prospects in Katigorah constituency of Cachar district, rather than addressing the urgent needs of the people who once elected him.

The crisis has been exacerbated in Dharkona village, where the recent floods unleashed by the Longai River washed away several metres of a crucial road. The destruction has rendered the route completely unusable, severing connectivity for villagers. In the absence of any immediate government intervention, locals have been forced to construct and rely on a precarious bamboo bridge to cross the affected stretch—putting lives at constant risk.

Despite repeated appeals and the visibly deteriorating situation, residents allege that there has been no response from their elected representative. The silence and inaction, they say, reflect a complete disregard for the suffering of ordinary citizens, particularly those needing urgent medical care.

Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha was earlier elected from North Karimganj on a Congress ticket, having positioned himself as a strong critic of the BJP at the time. However, political observers note that his current ambitions lie elsewhere, with indications that he is eyeing the Katigorah Assembly seat in Cachar district. This perceived abandonment of his original constituency has triggered sharp criticism, with many questioning the ethics of a leader who, they allege, prioritises political survival over public responsibility.

As North Karimganj struggles for basic connectivity and healthcare access, the unfolding situation raises uncomfortable questions about accountability, representation, and the true meaning of development. Whether voters in Katigorah will embrace a leader facing such serious allegations of neglect remains an open and politically significant question.