‘It Was a Struggle to Survive’: Sivasagar Flood Survivors Recount Days of Fear and Loss

The devastating floods that struck Simaluguri Block in Sivasagar district on July 19, 2026, left behind more than muddy homes, damaged belongings and financial losses. For many families, the disaster also left deep memories of fear, helplessness and survival that will remain long after the floodwaters have receded.
The flooding began around 9 am to 10 am, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. What initially appeared to be rising water soon turned into a powerful current that swept through homes and communities. Large trees were uprooted and carried away by the force of the water.
During a visit to the affected areas, the team from the Northeast Centre for Equity Action on Integrated Development (NEAID) heard several accounts from residents who said they had experienced floods before but had never witnessed anything of this magnitude. The speed and force of the water and the extent of the destruction were described as unprecedented in their lifetime.
Among those affected was a widow who was alone at home when the floodwaters began rising. With barely any time to save her belongings, she called her brother, who arrived quickly and helped her reach safety.
When the NEAID team visited her house, the water had receded, but thick mud and silt had covered her kitchen. Several household belongings and valuables had been damaged or washed away, while access to safe drinking water remained a major concern.
The woman had also recently taken a gold loan to repair her house before the flood. Before she could recover from that financial burden, the flood damaged the house again, leaving her struggling with both the loss caused by the disaster and the responsibility of repaying the loan.
Another family—a couple and their child—remained trapped by floodwaters for nearly three days. With no safe route to leave their home, they took shelter on the concrete beam of an unfinished building. Surrounded by water, they survived on biscuits and collected rainwater for drinking.
Another woman, whose son works in Kerala, was left alone inside her home for three days as the floodwaters continued to rise. The roar of the water grew louder as it entered through the front door and flowed out through the back of the house.
The current was so strong that she could not safely move from one room to another. With very little food and no access to safe drinking water, she attempted to create a safer place above the rising water by placing a table over her bed and a chair on top of it.
As her thirst became unbearable, she was forced to drink contaminated floodwater. It was not a choice but a desperate act of survival.
The experiences of families in Simaluguri underline the human cost of flooding beyond official statistics. Behind every number is a family trying to survive, recover and rebuild after losing homes, belongings, income and a sense of security.
The NEAID team provided affected families with food kits, drinking water and essential household items during its visit. However, the needs of the affected communities extend far beyond immediate relief.
Families continue to require support to access safe drinking water, clean and repair their homes, restore their livelihoods and ensure that their children can return to education.
Against this backdrop, NEAID is transitioning from “Relief to Rebuild”, with a focus on household recovery, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), healthcare, child protection, socio-emotional well-being and strengthening community resilience.
Recovery, the organisation said, is not simply about rebuilding damaged houses. It is about helping families rebuild their lives, restore their dignity, regain hope and develop the resilience needed to face future disasters.
The stories from Simaluguri stand as a reminder that the impact of a flood cannot be measured only by the number of people affected or the height reached by the water. The true impact is reflected in the lives of families who must now overcome loss, recover their livelihoods and rebuild their future.