Brahmaputra: Greatest blessing or fiercest challenge

FOR centuries, the Brahmaputra has been the pulse of Assam, supporting millions of lives. Nevertheless, this very life-giving force has once again created havoc. The 2026 monsoon in Assam has brought what is officially being described as the state’s worst deluge in sixty years.

As per the catastrophic data, the death toll has climbed to over 70, with more than 7 lakh people affected across 12 districts, submerging over 856 villages. Housing damage accounts for 15-18% of the total damage index, followed by population displacement (11%) and crop loss (10%). 

And behind these statistics lie the horrifying stories of survival and death.

Assam is a flood-prone state, with roughly 40% of the state inundated every monsoon. But the pattern and the nature of these floods have changed dramatically over the years. The Great Assam Earthquake of 1950 changed the Brahmaputra’s course, thereby increasing its silt load manifold. The traditional flood dynamics got transformed into a new normal of destruction. The 1950 earthquake changed the flood behavior of the state entirely, which has further been amplified by human actions like deforestation, mining, and degradation of wetlands.

The 2026 flood is unique because of its geographical impact. Originally, Central and Lower Assam bore the fury of monsoons, but this year Upper Assam districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat, which were considered safe, have been worst hit. The residents said that the water arrived at such a terrifying speed that within 30minutes the entire area was inundated. The neighbouring Nagaland hills and Upper Assam recorded five times more heavy rainfall of 435-493% between July 18 and 19. 

The tributaries like the Dikhow, Disang, and Dhansiri, which were already swollen, could not drain into the Brahmaputra, thereby causing a ruckus. The northeast region acts as a moisture accumulation area and an uplift zone due to the southwest monsoon of the Bay of Bengal, leading to heavy orographic rainfall. The area's topography and geology aggravate flooding because of the steep, young landscape and saturated, thin soil. 

When the upper layers of the rivers reach saturation, surplus water transforms into surface runoff, increasing the sediment load and resulting in larger floods. But this otherwise natural calamity has been intensified due to anthropogenic reasons mostly.

Deforestation has lessened “infiltration opportunity time meaning that water no longer percolates into the ground but flows downhill, carrying massive sediments that raise the riverbed, thereby reducing its carrying capacity. Moreover, excessive excavation and mining activities have disturbed the river valleys, leading to deposit of silt. As a result, the tributaries of the Brahmaputra had a backwater effect, flooding the districts and making rescue impossible. 

The “Levee Effect” is also an important aspect in the 2026 flood ferocity. Over 80% of the embankments remain in poor condition throughout the year. These structures act like a masquerade of security; thus, when they eventually crush, the resulting damage is far more severe than it should have been.

The mighty Brahmaputra this monsoon has set off towards Upper Assam like a boatman whose boat swayed due to the winds, but he had to row firmly along the river’s edge. Will this predicament ever end, and what possible steps should be taken in the coming years to put a Band-Aid, if not end entirely, to this tragedy? This year’s catastrophe proved that the old model of flood control has been obsolete, and the need of the hour is a scientific and holistic approach.

The first crucial step has to be afforestation of watershed areas, where the dense forests will slow down water runoff and prevent rushing downstream. The Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0), Joint Forest Management (JFM), and State CAMPA are existing initiatives that need proper scaling. 

The next step has to be scientific desiltation of tributaries. Siltation is a natural phenomenon in rivers, but structural interventions reduce the carrying capacity of rivers. Desiltation will improve the hydraulic performance of a river. The Brahmaputra, which is a braided river, should be provided with sufficient area for flood plains and lakes, and any encroachment should be monitored from time to time. 

The third significant step is the restoration of wetlands. Wetlands in Assam act as a natural ecosystem to store and absorb excess monsoon floodwaters, reducing the main river flow by 20% to 80%. The Government of Assam has already shifted from traditional ways to ecosystem-based flood management with the proposed ‘Innovative Integration of Wetlands with River Brahmaputra for Floodwater Diversion. 

Lastly, better forecasting and warning systems should be launched for minimal damage. Assam presently uses Flood Early Warning Systems (FLEWS) and Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS), but this needs to be scaled more scientifically so that the information reaches the District Administration as early as possible.

The Brahmaputra remains both Assam's curse as well as blessing. And this paradox is hauntingly echoes in Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s song: Bistirno parore, ohonkhya jonore, hahakar huniu, nihobde nirove, Bura Luit tumi, Bura Luit tumi boah kiyo? (Across your vast banks, hearing the cries of countless people, why do you, O old Luit, flow on in silent indifference?). 

The floodwaters will eventually subside, but if Assam is to escape this relentless cycle of devastation, the narrative of its floods must finally change. The answer is not in just another embankment, but a broader scientific as well as community approach.

(Shilpa Roy is an Advocate, Columnist, Author “Of Pastels and Inferno” and a Legal Studies Faculty.)

July 30, 2026