Residents of Hamukjaan in Assam continue to face repeated flooding, with poor drainage infrastructure exacerbating the problem year after year. As the rainy season approaches, households brace for waterlogged roads, damaged homes, and an almost paralyzed daily life. Locals voice growing frustration over what they describe as years of administrative apathy and unfulfilled promises by authorities. The stagnant water, which often remains for days, disrupts transportation, affects small businesses, and forces many families to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.
Rainwater enters homes easily due to the uneven terrain and the absence of a proper drainage network. Residents recall past floods where household items, including food and furniture, were washed away in the middle of the night. Many say they have submitted multiple complaints and memorandums to local authorities, but they have seen little to no tangible action. The villagers feel helpless as they watch the same scenes unfold every year without any significant improvements.
Local shopkeepers lose customers when flooding makes streets impassable. Children miss school days, and emergency services struggle to reach affected households. In a region that already faces limited infrastructure, the lack of efficient drainage pushes the community further into hardship. Villagers have begun building makeshift barriers outside their homes to prevent water from entering, but these provide only temporary relief. The accumulation of stagnant water has also led to a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and malaria.
Residents point out that the main culvert, which is supposed to channel water away from the area, remains clogged with debris and plastic waste. Despite repeated assurances from the local panchayat and district officials, maintenance crews fail to clean the culvert on time. Several attempts to coordinate community clean-up drives have occurred, but residents say that the scale of the issue requires proper governmental intervention. The delay in desilting and repairs turns every heavy rain into a disaster.
Elderly residents recount how the area used to drain better even a decade ago, when the water channels were narrower but regularly maintained. As new buildings sprang up and encroachments blocked natural water outlets, the situation worsened. Over the years, development in the area has outpaced planning, leaving behind a broken and insufficient drainage system. The combination of unchecked construction and lack of municipal oversight has left Hamukjaan’s people increasingly vulnerable.
Students from the village who study in nearby towns often miss their exams and daily classes because they cannot wade through knee-deep water. One college student, Afreen, said she missed an important university entrance test last year due to flooding. Her story reflects the growing number of youth whose futures hang in the balance as poor civic infrastructure repeatedly upends their lives. Residents also worry about the psychological impact, especially on children, who often express fear during heavy rainfall.
Civil society groups and youth organizations have started campaigning for urgent intervention. They are demanding that the state government conduct a detailed survey and release funds specifically earmarked for drainage improvement. Some activists are planning to file a public interest litigation (PIL) if the situation remains ignored. The villagers are determined to keep up pressure until the government provides lasting solutions.
Local leaders have begun visiting the area more frequently ahead of the upcoming Panchayat elections. Some have promised permanent drainage systems, but residents remain skeptical. They say political leaders only remember Hamukjaan during elections, then disappear once voting ends. Meanwhile, daily life continues under threat, and every cloud that forms in the sky brings new anxiety.
Government engineers have visited the area on multiple occasions, but residents claim those visits have yielded little action. The officials often cite budget constraints or bureaucratic hurdles, promising that work will begin soon. However, the villagers argue that the problem no longer demands surveys or meetings—it requires visible work on the ground. Many believe that the administration lacks the political will to prioritize drainage development in rural areas like Hamukjaan.
During the monsoon season, the only health center in the area often becomes inaccessible, forcing families to travel long distances through flooded fields to seek medical care. Pregnant women, the elderly, and children suffer the most. Villagers say that in emergencies, they have had to carry patients on makeshift rafts or tractors to reach help. The situation becomes more dangerous when heavy rainfall coincides with power cuts, plunging entire neighborhoods into darkness and chaos.
Environmental experts have warned that continued neglect of the drainage problem could trigger long-term ecological consequences. Waterlogging leads to soil erosion, damages crops, and affects groundwater quality. Farmers in Hamukjaan, many of whom rely on small plots of land for livelihood, find their fields submerged and harvests destroyed. Their appeals for compensation often get buried in red tape, leaving them with unpaid loans and shrinking incomes.
Community leaders have also highlighted how the flooding affects local culture and festivals. Temples and community halls become inaccessible, and events get cancelled or postponed. People feel cut off from their own traditions, which adds to the emotional toll of repeated disasters. This disruption chips away at the village’s social fabric, making it harder for residents to feel any sense of normalcy or celebration.
In recent weeks, a group of students launched a digital campaign to draw attention to Hamukjaan’s plight. They have posted videos and photographs of flooded lanes, damaged homes, and affected residents on social media, hoping to attract both media and government attention. The campaign has gained modest traction, with several journalists visiting the village to document the crisis. The students hope that visibility will lead to accountability.
Despite the dire situation, the spirit of Hamukjaan’s people remains unbroken. Community members continue to support each other, offering food, shelter, and assistance during emergencies. Women’s self-help groups have stepped in to provide cooked meals and manage relief distribution when floods trap families indoors. Local school teachers conduct informal classes in dry areas to ensure children don’t fall behind in their studies.
The villagers now demand a concrete roadmap from the government. They want a clear timeline for drainage construction, regular maintenance schedules, and a disaster response team stationed nearby. Residents say that mere promises will no longer suffice. They want assurances backed by action, not just words.
As Assam prepares for further development projects, Hamukjaan stands as a reminder that true progress must include the most vulnerable. Infrastructure cannot remain a luxury for select urban areas while rural communities continue to suffer. The people of Hamukjaan are ready to fight for their right to live with dignity, without fearing the next rainstorm. All they ask is for their voices to be heard—and for their lives to no longer be defined by neglect.