THE DROWNED IDENTITY

Every year, Assam faces terrible floods that destroy homes, farms, and livelihoods. Many people lose everything they own, and entire villages get washed away. Floods not only destroy homes and lands but also erase the very markers of who we are. When floodwaters rise, they sweep away almost everything in their path, including critical documents like birth certificates, national IDs, property deeds, and educational certificates. For many, these papers are the foundation of their legal and social existence. Without them, a person is unable to prove their citizenship, claim government aid, access healthcare, or even vote, becoming an “outsider” in their own homeland. Imagine a farmer who loses his land records in a flood and, as a result, has no proof of ownership. Now, he could lose his rights to the property, or someone might take it. Ultimately, the loss of land records can lead to financial instability, loss of livelihood, and increased stress. Imagine a parent who loses their child’s birth certificate in a flood. Without this document, they may struggle to enroll their child in school or access government benefits. This can create barriers to education and affect the child's development. Beyond paperwork, floods also wash away personal treasures like family photos, letters, and heirlooms—objects that tie people to their history, culture, and sense of self. Overall, a person might survive the flood physically, but if they lose their identity, they may feel like a stranger in their own life. The struggle for identity due to lost documents is depicted in the movie “Kaagaz”, where a man fights for years to prove that he is alive after being falsely declared dead in government records. This highlights the harsh reality that without proper documentation, a person’s existence itself can be questioned. Rebuilding after a flood is not just about restoring homes and infrastructure but also about restoring identity and dignity. Governments and communities must work together to provide secure digital records, easy document recovery, and legal support for those affected.

DELUGE AND DESPAIR

Assam, a state in northeastern India, is known for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. However, it is highly vulnerable to floods caused by monsoon rains and the overflow of the Brahmaputra River. These floods disrupt agriculture, damage infrastructure, and impact the livelihoods of millions.
Agriculture is the backbone of Assam's economy. Unfortunately, every year, floods submerge a large number of agricultural fields, causing significant loss of crops and livestock. Assam experiences an annual loss of around 200 crores and a peak loss of 771 crores. Crops like rice and jute are badly affected, leading to food shortages and economic difficulties for farmers. Continuous flooding and erosion have led to the loss of thousands of hectares of arable land. It is estimated that each year, Assam loses around 8,000 hectares of agricultural land because of riverbank erosion.
Floods in Assam also lead to significant damage to infrastructure. Roads and bridges are often washed away, making it difficult for people to access basic services. Schools and hospitals are also flooded, disrupting education and healthcare for many communities. The repair costs for this damaged infrastructure are high, putting additional strain on the state's resources and making recovery even more challenging for the affected population.

NATURAL CAUSES OF FLOOD

Flooding is a recurring issue in Assam, causing extensive damage to human lives, infrastructure, and the natural environment. The state has a tropical monsoon climate, with heavy rainfall from June to September. Assam receives about 2,500 mm of rain each year, mostly during the monsoon season. This heavy and continuous rainfall saturates the soil, leading to increased surface runoff. When the amount of water exceeds what rivers and drainage systems can handle, flooding occurs.

Assam's geography also contributes to flooding. The state is home to many rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak, along with their tributaries. The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in the world, flows through Assam and carries significant amounts of water and sediment. Its numerous tributaries, such as the Subansiri, Manas, and Dhansiri, add to the river's volume. The river's changing course and braided nature often lead to floods, as it can overflow its banks and inundate large areas.

Climate change worsens flooding in Assam. It has affected rainfall patterns and increased the likelihood of extreme weather events in the region. Higher temperatures can lead to more intense and unpredictable rainfall, raising the risk of flooding. Overall, floods in Assam are caused by heavy monsoon rains, large river systems, low-lying land, sediment buildup, and landslides. Understanding these natural causes is crucial for managing floods and helping communities prepare for this natural disaster.

MAN-MADE CAUSES OF FLOOD

Flooding in Assam, while significantly influenced by natural factors, is also exacerbated by various human activities. Primarily, deforestation is one of the contributors of flooding in Assam. The extensive clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects reduces the land's ability to absorb rainfall. Without adequate vegetation, rainwater runs off more quickly, leading to increased surface runoff and higher flood risks. Urbanization has also played a critical role in flood dynamics. The construction of buildings and roads, disrupts the natural flow of water, increasing the likelihood of urban flooding during heavy rains. Poor drainage systems further exacerbate the flooding situation. Inadequate and poorly maintained drainage infrastructure in urban areas can lead to water logging and flash floods. When heavy rains occur, these systems often fail to inundation. Although natural factors play a major role in Assam's flooding, human activities like deforestation, urban expansion, inadequate drainage, and unsustainable irrigation have intensified the issue. Tackling these human - induced factors is crucial for implementing effective flood control measures and strengthening the regions ability to withstand future floods.

নিয়ন্ত্ৰণৰ উপায়

মানুহে মহাকাশ জয় কৰি চন্দ্ৰৰ বুকুতো গৌৰৱ-ধ্বজা উৰুৱাইছে। অন্যান্য গ্ৰহৰ বুকুলৈকো মহাকাশযান নিক্ষেপ কৰি মানুহৰ শ্ৰেষ্ঠত্ব প্ৰতিপন্ন কৰিব খুজিছে। তেনেতে, বানপানী অসমৰ প্ৰধান দুৰ্যোগ হৈয়ো, ইয়াক ৰোধৰ বাবে কেৱল মাথোঁ পৰম্পৰাগত প্ৰদ্ধতি অৱলম্বন কৰাটো যথেষ্ট নহয়। ইয়াৰ বাবে আমি ভিন্ন বিজ্ঞানসন্মত প্ৰদ্ধতি অৱলম্বন কৰাটো অতিশয় আৱশ্যক।আমেৰিকাই বিশ্ব-বিখ্যাত 'টেনেচি ভেলী প্রজেক্ট'ৰ যোগে দুর্দমনীয়, সর্বধ্বংসকাৰী টেনেচি নদীক নিয়ন্ত্ৰণ কৰি তাৰ সৰ্বধ্বংসী শক্তিক মানুহৰ কল্যাণৰ কামত প্রয়োগ কৰিছে। "চীনৰ দুখ" নামে অভিহিত হোৱা হোৱাংহো নদীকো নিয়ন্ত্ৰণ কৰি তাৰ শক্তি চীনৰ জনতাৰ কল্যাণত খটুৱাই দেশৰ অশেষ উপকাৰ সাধন কৰিছে। ভাৰততো নদী উপত্যকা আঁচনি গ্রহণ কৰি দামোদৰ ভেলী প্রজেক্ট, ভাক্রা-নাংগল প্রজেক্ট আৰু অন্যান্য নৈ-উপনৈ নিয়ন্ত্ৰণৰ ব্যৱস্থা কৰি মীন-মহল খোলা হৈছে। পথাৰত পানী যোগান ধনা হৈছে; জলাধাৰ তৈয়াৰ কৰি মীন-মহল খোলা হৈছে। এইবোৰৰ দৰে আমাৰ লুইত আৰু ইয়াৰ উপ-নৈবোৰ নিয়ন্ত্ৰণৰ ব্যৱস্থা কৰা উচিত।অথচ এই নদ-নদীবোৰ নিয়ন্ত্ৰণ কৰাৰ ব্যৱস্থা হ'লে প্ৰচুৰ পৰিমাণৰ জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন হ'ব আৰু বানপানীৰ কৰাল গ্ৰাসৰপৰাও অসমে মুক্তি পাব। অসমৰ তীব্ৰবেগী নৈবোৰৰপৰা কম আয়াসতে যিমান পৰিমাণৰ জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদন হ'ব, তাৰ সহায়তে সমগ্ৰ ভাৰতৰ কল-কাৰখানা চলিব আৰু ভাৰত কৃত্রিম জোনালীৰে উদ্ভাসিত হৈ উঠিব। আনহাতেদি বানপানীৰ কৰাল গ্ৰাসৰপৰা মুক্ত অসম পুনৰ সুজলা-সুফলা, শস্য-শ্যামলা হ'ব।

বানপানীৰ সময়ত ল'ব লগীয়া সাৱধানতা

অসমৰ বানপানীৰ ভয়াৱহতা আৰুপ্ৰবণতৰ প্ৰতি লক্ষ্য কৰিলে অনুভব কৰা যায় যে ইয়াৰ প্ৰভাৱ কম কৰিবলৈ সঠিক সজাগতা আৰু প্ৰস্তুতিৰ প্ৰয়োজন | বানপানীৰ আগতে , সময়ত আৰু পিছত লবলগীয়া সঠিক পদক্ষেপ সমূহ জানিলে সুৰক্ষা নিশ্চিত কৰাত সহায় কৰিব পাৰে আৰু বিপদ হ্ৰাস কৰিব পাৰে | তেনে কিছু সাৱধানতা তলত উল্লেখ কৰা হল |

বানপানীৰ আগত ~
1. পোহনীয়া জন্তুবোৰ মুক্ত অবস্থাত ৰাখিব।
2. প্ৰয়োজনীয় নথি পত্ৰ আৰু সামগ্ৰীসমূহ পানী সোমাব নোৱাৰা এটা মোনাত ভৰাই থব।
3. চৰকাৰী নিৰ্দ্দেশ পোৱাৰ মাত্ৰকে নিৰাপদ স্হানলৈ যোৱাৰ ব্যৱস্থা কৰিব।
4. খুব কমেও এসপ্তাহৰ বাবে পৰ্য্যপ্ত পৰিমাণৰ খাদ্য সামগ্ৰী আৰু খোৱা পানী যোগাৰ কৰি থব।

বানপানীৰ সময়ত ~
1. বানপানী হোৱা আঞ্চলসমূহলৈ পৰাপক্ষত নাযাব আৰু খাল, বিল, পুখুৰী আদিৰ পৰা দূৰত থাকিব।
2. বৈদ্যুতিক খুটা আৰু পৰি থকা বৈদ্যুতি পৰিবাহী তাঁৰৰ ওচৰলৈ নাযাব।
3. উতলাই থোৱা বা ক্ল'ৰিন যুক্ত পানী খাব।
4. পৰিৱেশ পৰিস্কাৰ কৰি ৰাখিবলৈ ঘৰৰ চাৰিওফালে বিজাণুনাশক দ্ৰব্য প্ৰয়োগ কৰিব।

বানপানীৰ পিছত ~
1. বানত নষ্ট হোৱা যন্ত্ৰ পাতি পৰীক্ষা নকৰাকৈ ব্যৱহাৰ নকৰিব।
2. মেলেৰিয়া ৰোগৰ পৰা ৰক্ষা পাবলৈ আঠুৱা ব্যৱহাৰ কৰিব।
3. যদিহে পানীৰ পাইপ নষ্ট হৈ আছে, তেনেহলে টেপৰ পানী ব্যৱহাৰ নকৰিব।
4. সাপৰ পৰা সাৱধানে থাকিব, কাৰণ বানপানীৰ সময়ত সাপৰ উপদ্ৰব বৃদ্ধি হোৱা দেখা যায়।