The River Turns Deadly

The floods and landslides in North East India and Bangladesh are devastating. Hundreds dead, millions homeless. Till now large parts of Assam are under water, with no power, food or drinking water. Some villages are completely submerged, not even the roofs could be seen. It’s like a sea.

Silchar city is also affected. The entire city is waterlogged. It’s like friggin Venice, only that instead of boats, people are wading in waist-high to neck-high water depending on where you are in the city. Our home in Silchar is likewise affected. There’s about a foot of water in our home for the last week now.

This flood, by the way, was the second to hit North East India in the last 2 months. The first was in May and then now. I don’t know how many lives were lost, how many homes are permanently gone…

God, have mercy on us and deliver those affected from the effects of devastating flood, and the hardships and diseases that follow. We’re looking for volunteers and charitable organizations in the Silchar to see how we could contribute to their efforts. If you wanna help, please send me a message on prahnago@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you. Meanwhile, please pray for the people affected. God bless you.

Here’re some photos of the river we took in April this year before the floods hit.


Barak River, Fulertal, Assam, India – Justin at her aunt’s (Rekha) garden/ farm beside their home. This entire garden is under water as I write. Just imagine how much the water level has risen…


Amar Gurung’s riverside house, Fulertal – The river would’ve surged up to the foundations of the house. I hope they’re safe…


The Barak River in tranquil times, seen from the Mukam at Fulertal. The Mukam is what locals call the tomb of a Muslim holy man called Baba Longarshah. The tomb is located inside the compound of a large mosque. What’s strange but wonderful about this place is that, Hindus also revere this holy man and frequently visit the tomb to place candles and pray. They’d do this right after visiting the Hindu temple next door to the mosque! That’s what I call tolerance and acceptance. Peace, no hate. I hope the whole world could be more like that.






Tomb of Baba Longarshah, Mukam, Fulertal, Cachar District, Assam


Amrita at the Mukam


The Manipuri temple (or what locals call the Shiv Temple) beside the Mukam. The Barak River is just behind the yellow-coloured shrine on the right. It’s a high drop from this temple to the river below. This accounts for why Fulertal Village isn’t flooded. According to Anu, the land behind the temple used to be much larger, but years of erosion have caused the land to shrink considerably since Anu was a child. Local Hindus frequently pray here and then pray at the Mukam, next door


Anu at the Shiv Mandir, Fulertal, Cachar, Assam


The Barak River at Lakhipur town – This is the ghat where boats ferry passengers across to the other side of the river i.e. Binnakandi. From seeing how the river has risen in the news and videos sent from home, I think the river’s level would have risen to where that lady in front is standing…

Continue to pray my friends…