Guwahati: For nearly three weeks, 300 flood-ravaged Sivasagar families were forced to live alongside their cattle, goats and poultry after floodwaters inundated their villages.During this time of hardship, an old Ahom-era rampart turned into an unlikely refuge for these families and their cattle.In Betoni, one of the worst-hit areas of Bhadhara revenue village, around 50 of 55 families saw their homes submerged within five to 10 minutes on July 19. They fled with whatever livestock and poultry they could save.The nearly 10km historic rampart, later converted into a PWD road, sheltered families from Bhadhara, Da-Nimai, Nimaijan and other villages. Built to protect the Ahom kingdom and surrounded by bamboo plantations, Bahgarh became a lifeline during the disaster.Many families have since returned home, though more than a dozen from Betoni remain on the rampart because their houses are damaged or inundated.“Cattle, ducks and chickens are all that many families like us have been left with. Everything else was swept away within minutes when the floodwaters tore through our village on the evening of July 19,” said daily-wage painter Prasanta Phukan.Phukan lost four goats, 11 ducks and seven chickens. His neighbour Lalit Saikia lost his only cow and its calf, the family’s sole source of income from milk.Families chose the roadside over a relief camp 4km away to remain close to their livestock, for which the crowded camp had little space. Rain and storms threaten their tarpaulin shelters, while water remains stagnant.“We are living alongside our cows, pigs, goats and poultry. We do not want to lose them anymore. With floodwaters still surrounding many homes and more rain forecast, we do not know what lies ahead,” Phukan said.Bhadhara gaon pradhan Bijit Gogoi said the village has around 300 families and even its register was washed away.“Betoni still has knee-deep water in several places. We are monitoring the situation with govt officials. Families staying on the road are being provided all possible assistance, including medical care wherever required,” Gogoi said.
