By a Northeasterner Who’s Seen the Monsoon’s Fury Before
When the Rains Come, They Don’t Knock
If you’ve ever lived in the Northeast during the monsoon, you know the sound of trouble: that low, unending rumble of rain against tin roofs, the rising pitch of rivers swelling past their banks, and the eerie silence when electricity gives up. I remember being a kid in Silchar, watching my father stack sandbags by our gate while my mother packed a bag “just in case.” The fear? Palpable. But so was the resilience.
Now, in 2025, it’s not just my town. It’s a full-blown regional crisis.
A Crisis Unfolding in Real Time
Over half a million people in 22 districts of Assam are in the grip of the worst flooding in recent years. More than 185,000 have fled to relief camps, schools are shut, and at least 11 lives have been lost in Assam—38 across the wider region. These aren’t just numbers. They’re someone’s grandparents, siblings, neighbors.
Crops across 12,600 hectares lie ruined under muddy water. That’s more than just rice and vegetables—that’s next season’s meals and income gone. The Brahmaputra, mighty and unpredictable as ever, has crossed danger levels in several locations. Roads are gone. So are bridges. Villages in Lakhimpur, Cachar, and Sribhumi are virtually islands now.
And still, the rain falls.
The Human Side of a Natural Disaster
In Guwahati, a family of three perished in a mudslide that crushed their home. In Barpeta, a young boy was seen carrying his grandmother on his back to higher ground. These are the images that don’t make national headlines often enough. But they’re the ones that stick with you.
At the relief camps, the mood is a mix of gratitude and grief. People are thankful to be alive, but the uncertainty is brutal. One moment you’re planning your daughter’s school admission, the next you’re sleeping on a mat in a crowded tent, hoping the rain doesn’t find you again.
Let’s not forget the emotional scars. The trauma, especially for children and the elderly, doesn’t go away when the waters recede. It lingers, in soggy textbooks and photos lost forever.
The Government and the Grind
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been on the frontlines, overseeing relief efforts and calling for accountability—especially around the release of water from a hydel project in Lakhimpur that might’ve worsened the situation. Credit where it’s due, the government has mobilized the NDRF, local police, and even the Indian Air Force for airlifting and supply drops.
But in moments like this, governance isn’t just about showing up—it’s about long-term planning. Assam has been here before, and sadly, will be again. What’s the strategy for flood mitigation in a climate-altered world?
The IMD’s orange alert hangs heavy in the air. More rain is coming. People are still in harm’s way. Time is tight.
Northeast United in Misery
It’s not just Assam. Manipur is battling its own hellscape—landslides, washed-out roads, over a thousand people rescued by the army. Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya are all in crisis mode. If the Northeast ever felt peripheral to Delhi’s politics, moments like this show how dangerously ignored the region can be.
Aid and attention come in waves—just like the floods.
Lessons the Monsoon Keeps Teaching
So what do we take away from all this?
- Nature isn’t waiting. Climate change is no longer theory. It’s real, and it’s here.
- Infrastructure matters. More embankments, better drainage, and timely dam management could save lives.
- Preparedness is everything. Early alerts, community-led evacuation drills, and decentralized aid hubs aren’t luxuries—they’re essentials.
But most of all? We learn that resilience isn’t optional in this part of the world. It’s our way of life.
A Personal Plea
If you’re reading this from the comfort of a dry, powered-up home, know this: the people of Assam need you. Not just your thoughts, but your support. Whether it’s a donation, a signal boost, or simply staying informed—every bit matters.
Disasters may not discriminate, but recovery often does. Let’s not let these stories wash away with the floodwaters.
