Tea estates submerged during peak plucking season; 5 lakh people affected across 22 districts
Guwahati, June 2: With the tea plucking season already underway, floods have inundated several tea estates in southern Assam’s Cachar and Hailakandi districts, dealing a serious blow to the industry and affecting the livelihoods of thousands of workers. The Kalinagar Tea Estate in Hailakandi is among the worst hit, as the swollen Katakhal River breached danger levels, submerging large parts of the estate and adjacent areas.
The timing of the floods could not be more damaging. With plucking operations in full swing, the submergence of leaf-bearing sections of tea estates is expected to cause both crop losses and wage disruptions. Most gardens in Hailakandi are now grappling with floodwaters entering their peripheries, threatening not just the harvest but also access to worker colonies and transportation routes.
“This is not the first time,” said a Hailakandi resident. “Whenever the Katakhal rises, it spills into the tea gardens. But this time, the situation is worse than before.”
Beyond the tea belt, Assam is reeling under the first wave of floods this year, with over 5 lakh people across 22 districts affected. More than 1,200 villages have been inundated, and over 30,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps. The death toll has risen to 12, with Hailakandi reporting one person missing after being swept away by floodwaters.
The missing individual, Bishu Roy, reportedly fell into the surging waters of the Katakhal River on Sunday. Despite a prompt rescue operation, authorities have been unable to trace him. Government data confirms that the Katakhal River has touched its highest-ever recorded flood level of 22.73 metres and continues to rise.
In Cachar district, the administration has placed the region on high alert, activating emergency relief and shelter mechanisms. Five women-centric relief camps are operational in Udharbond, three in Sonai, and seventeen across Silchar. Relief materials have also been pre-positioned in Borkhola in anticipation of further deterioration.
Urban flooding remains a major concern in Silchar, where waterlogging has crippled normal life. High-capacity dewatering pumps, including 50 HP units from Rosekandi, Haticherra, and ONGC, have been deployed. At Bangla Ghat, dewatering operations are underway to restore access to key areas.
Many rivers in Assam — including the Barak, Katakhal, and Kopili — are in full spate, threatening fresh inundation in low-lying areas if rains persist. State authorities are keeping a close watch, as weather forecasts suggest continued rainfall in some upper catchment zones.
As monsoon sets in, Assam’s twin challenge of safeguarding human lives and securing key sectors like agriculture and tea has once again come into sharp focus.
Also Read: Arunachal Pradesh: NHRC takes suo motu cognisance of human rights concerns over proposed mega dam
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