Tezpur, Aug 2: Even as Assam continues to focus on rehabilitating flood-affected families across several Upper Assam districts, fresh concerns have emerged in Sonitpur after severe erosion along the Brahmaputra River triggered panic in Tezpur’s historic Tal Kalibari area.
Rapidly rising water levels washed away large stretches of the riverbank on Saturday, threatening a historically significant locality and alarming residents as powerful currents continued to eat into the land.
According to local residents, the river began swelling on Saturday afternoon, with the situation deteriorating sharply by evening.
The intensified flow caused extensive erosion, submerging several trees and patches of vegetation while raising fears among people living close to the river.
Residents, many of whom have lived through repeated floods and erosion over the years, described the latest episode as unprecedented.
“Floods and erosion are natural phenomena in this area, but this time the situation is frightening and unprecedented. We have never witnessed such a scene earlier,” a resident said.
Following reports of the worsening situation, local MLA Prithviraj Rava, Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das and Officer-in-Charge of Tezpur Sadar Police Station Bhaskarjyoti Bezbaruah visited the erosion-hit site to assess the extent of the damage.
The officials urged residents to stay away from the vulnerable riverbank and assured them that the situation was being closely monitored.
Expressing growing concern over the advancing erosion, locals urged the authorities to immediately undertake protective measures, warning that the area is home to several ancient temples, monuments and long-standing government institutions that could be at risk if the river continues to erode the embankment unabated.