On Saturday, August 15, 2026, residents of Hiloni Nepali Khuti in Sivasagar — a village hit hard by the July 19 floods — emerged from relief camps and makeshift shelters to clear a patch of devastated land and hoist the Tricolour as they marked India’s 80th Independence Day. Their homes had been submerged in mud, leaving roughly 500 families marooned, but the community chose to observe the national day together despite the loss and disruption.
The deluge on July 19 swept away houses, killed livestock and claimed lives across Assam. Gorkha Development Council chairperson Prem Tamang said the Nazira hamlet was among the worst affected: “A devastating flood hit Assam, and Nazira’s Nepali Khuti village suffered the most. More than 1,000 livestock died. Around 200 concrete houses were washed away.” He added that the council has been supporting relief and rehabilitation since July 25, setting up temporary camps before rebuilding homes to boost the morale of the Gorkha community.
Tamang said arrangements for the Independence Day gathering were made with help from the local MLA. “The situation is better now. Houses are being rebuilt. Looking at this, the people said that bad times will come and go, but we have to celebrate the 80th Independence Day together. We arranged ‘kheer’ for the people,” he said, describing a small moment of normalcy and solidarity amid recovery efforts.
Official figures compiled by Assam’s Disaster Reporting and Information Management System bulletin dated August 9, 2026, put the statewide death toll at 101 — 60 men, 23 women and 18 children (12 boys and six girls). Authorities corrected Sivasagar’s count from 50 to 49 after discovering a duplicate entry. Other districts reported fatalities as well: Cachar 22, Karimganj nine and Golaghat eight, with deaths also recorded in Dhemaji, Nagaon, Udalguri, Sonitpur and Karbi Anglong.
The flood situation remains critical in parts of Assam, with rescue and relief operations ongoing. District administrations and revenue authorities continue to monitor water levels and assist affected communities, while central and state governments provide relief, rehabilitation and medical support as efforts proceed to restore essential services and help communities recover.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/floods-shatter-lives-but-spirit-endures-as-nepali-khuti-villagers-keep-the-tiranga-waving-high/articleshow/133280949.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-08-16 23:50:00
