Everything You Need to Know About:
The Assam Floods
Every year, the Indian state of Assam is devastated by the effects of the flooding of the Brahmaputra river. This year is no different, yet the addition of the coronavirus pandemic has made rescue operations more difficult than normal.
As of Thursday, 30th July, 16.5 lakh people in over 1500 villages are still affected by the floods. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 37000 people are taking shelter in 208 relief camps set up throughout the state. Goalpara is the worst affected district, followed by Morigaon and South Salmara.
Though the general name used denotes only one state, Assam is not the only area affected by these annual floods- others include flooding in Bihar, landslides in Sikkim, and heavy rains in Meghalaya.
As of Wednesday, July 28th, flood waters spread to 11 districts in Bihar, and the Patna Meteorological Department issued a warning of more rain till August 1st. The situation is expected to worsen especially in the northern parts of the state. Seven small rivers were reported flowing above the danger mark in several places, and the Chief Minister has ordered constant monitoring of embankments.
So, what causes these floods that ravage the state each year? Generally, the Brahmaputra by nature is considered a very dynamic river, with the second highest sedimentation rate in the world. This high rate of sedimentation displaces massive amounts of water, causing the river to overflow. Assam, like much of the North-East receives very heavy monsoon rains, and this year, the meteorological departments of Assam and Meghalaya declared a 30% excess of rainfall.
Topographically speaking, a major part of Assam is flat land; a floodplain area, surrounded by hills- think of it as a bowl, with water being poured in from the sides. The state government of Assam has declared that nearly 40% of the state lies in the flood-prone region.
Kaziranga, a UNESCO world heritage site, is home to 2/3rds of the world’s population of one-horned rhinos. It has a riverine ecosystem- which means it requires flooding every year to maintain its natural vegetation. The maintenance of this natural vegetation is crucial, considering the vast numbers of herbivorous species living in the park.
8 rhinos have died, 127 animals were lost, and 157 have been rescued (27/07). As the water recedes, more will be found. On a more pleasant note, several rhinos have sought shelter in residential areas and villages. If you want to see rhinos being rescued by locals, check out these videos by Indian Express Online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U45lxpJ-Nn8
[Assam floods: Rescued baby rhino fed milk at rehabilitation centre]
- Uploaded 22nd July
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn5IYkCIvIY
[Assam flood: Rhinos of Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary seek shelter in houses]
- Uploaded 26th July
What can be done to stop the river from overflowing? Has the government taken any action on preventing floods in this region?
The Brahmaputra river is the ninth-largest river in the world, nearly 11 kilometres wide and changing its own course each year. In 1982, the Brahmaputra Board suggested construction of dams and reservoirs, but such plans were protested by locals and environmentalists on grounds of destruction of natural areas. Later, a multipurpose dam project was suggested, but was rejected by Arunachal Pradesh govt. concerned about the submergence of some small towns.
This has left only one partially-viable method- embankments. Embankments are basically short walls of stone, earth or mud, that prevent an overflowing river from flooding an area. Of course, given the sheer size of the Brahmaputra river, embankments are only a temporary, short-term solution.
There is one, although highly controversial, method of controlling the overflow of the river called ‘Dredging’. Dredging is the process of clearing away the riverbed and deepening it by removing mud and silt from the bottom. In polluted rivers, dredging is extremely harmful to aquatic life, and is a major cause for an increase in water turbidity. In the case of the Brahmaputra river, dredging is not a very feasible option, considering its high sedimentation rate will bring mud and earth dug up from the river bed right back into the water, blowing away the expensive cost of the process.
If you want a visual breakdown of what the Assam State Government is doing for relief, here is a video by Hindustan Times, uploaded on Thursday, 30th July.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukVrXTZjejY
Hindustan Times also has a video on the overflowing of the Brahmaputra, back from when the floods started in May. Do note that the statistics have since changed, and have been updated on their site as well as ours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4vmjORvd8o
What can you do to help?
https://cm.assam.gov.in/relieffund.php
[Chief Minister of Assam Relief Fund]
https://www.actionaidindia.org/assam-flood-relief-2020/
[Action Aid India- Assam Flood Relief Response]
- fundindia@actionaid.org
These donations are actively providing relief and response to affected areas based on funds. For more, visit our ‘How to Help’ page at the top of the screen, or linked down below. Links to donations are verified by our team to ensure credibility, and if you see anything wrong, feel free to contact us at any time.
https://justconscientia.blogspot.com/p/how-to-help.html
[JustConscientia- How to Help
-Written by Nikita,
-Edited by Shaumee.
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