Floodwater recedes in Assam, but families face damaged homes, mounting debt
In several villages of Sivasagar, the floodwater has started to recede. But for families returning home, the situation remains difficult.
Debu Gogoi, a resident of the area, said his house is no longer surrounded by water, but many families are still unable to return.
"We can stay like before now, more or less," he said. "But in the rest of the village, some people are staying at relatives' houses, some have pitched tents on the road."
For those who have returned, the damage left behind by the flood is hard to ignore. Houses are covered in mud and many families have lost household belongings.
"The floors are covered in mud. The government said they'd give fifteen thousand rupees, that hasn't come yet," Gogoi said.
At least two houses in his area collapsed during the flood. "People were moved out in between. Nobody goes near those houses now," he said.
Gogoi said his own family has little left to return to.
"There's nothing left inside our house either. We have to start from zero. There isn't even a tree left standing in front of it or behind it," he said.
During the worst days of the flooding, residents relied heavily on each other. Families opened their homes to those displaced by the rising water, while neighbours shared food, boats and dry clothes.
But with the water receding, families are now facing the much harder task of rebuilding their lives. Many are waiting for financial assistance and other relief promised by the government.
For Malakhi Gogoi, another resident, the immediate concern is not just repairing the damage but finding a way to manage household expenses.
She said many families in the area are already repaying loans taken for motorcycles, household appliances and other needs before the floods.
"Everyone has an EMI, how will we pay," she said.
With normal work and income disrupted by the floods, families are worried about keeping up with their monthly instalments while also finding money to repair their homes and replace what they lost.
For many in Sivasagar, the flood may be receding, but the financial strain it has left behind is only beginning.
