Dhubri, August 3, 2024 — In a catastrophic turn of events, the relentless erosion by the Brahmaputra River has engulfed a safe house belonging to workers of the Dhubri-Phulbari bridge construction company in the South Salmara area of Assam’s Dhubri district.
The erosion, which has intensified as the river’s water level receded, has submerged numerous properties and drastically altered the river’s course, creating unpredictable new paths. This alarming situation has forced hundreds of families from Baushkata and Aiermari localities to relocate to safer areas due to severe soil loss along the riverbank.
Residents are urgently appealing to the government and local authorities for intervention and the implementation of safety measures to combat the ongoing erosion. The crisis has already claimed between fifty to seventy bighas of land, and without prompt action, further land losses are anticipated.
As the water level recedes, several parts of Assam continue to grapple with the erosion crisis following devastating floods that claimed more than 100 lives this year.
In a related incident, the recent floods exacerbated the erosion of the Beki River, posing a severe threat to Kaurjahi village in the Kalgachia revenue circle of the Jania constituency. The situation has left around 200 families displaced and the future of 160 students uncertain, as the encroaching river submerged homes and threatened crucial infrastructure, including the Kaurjahi Primary School and the Kaurjahi Mosque.
Residents of the affected areas are calling for immediate government action to prevent further damage and to ensure the safety and stability of their communities.