Insane flood theory

Recently, several reports from Assam have sought to identify the causes of the recent floods across several districts of Upper Assam. While it is natural for people to seek answers after a disaster of such magnitude, what is disturbing is the manner in which some reports and claims have sought to place the blame on Nagaland, particularly Mon district, without sufficient evidence. One claim that stood out was that a cloudburst in Mon district was responsible for the huge volume of water that caused flooding in Assam. This claim, however, was followed by a clarification that the India Meteorological Department had stated that there was no cloudburst in Mon on the particular days when the flooding occurred. This raises an obvious question. How could a cloudburst that reportedly did not occur become a major explanation for the floods? If there was a cascading flow of water from the hills into Assam, the matter requires a much wider and more scientific assessment. Arunachal Pradesh, as well as Nagaland’s Mon and Wokha districts, share borders with Assam. Therefore, if water flowing down from the hills contributed to the flooding, it would be more reasonable to examine the entire geographical and drainage system rather than single out one district of Nagaland. This is not an argument to rule out any possibility. If there is credible evidence that water from Mon or Wokha contributed to flooding in Assam, the evidence should be examined by competent technical agencies. But the same standard must apply to water flowing from the hill areas of Arunachal Pradesh. No state or district should be singled out merely because it lies upstream or shares a boundary with a flood-affected area. The controversy has also taken another turn with allegations that coal mining in Naginimora contributed to the Assam floods. The Konyak Union, Naginimora unit, has outright rejected the allegation. The clarification came after a video circulating on social media and reports in sections of the media allegedly attributed the flooding in Assam to coal mining in Naginimora and the purported release of water from a Dikhu dam in Mon district. There is another important point that cannot be ignored. Assam and Nagaland are neighbouring states whose people have long-standing social, economic and cultural connections. Any attempt to blame one state without credible evidence can create unnecessary tension between communities living on both sides of the border. However, to even assume that only Mon district had rains and not the others defies every logic. The recent allegations therefore deserve more than political or emotional responses. They require proper investigation. If there is genuine evidence of illegal mining, environmental damage or any other activity that contributed to the flooding, those responsible must be held accountable. But if allegations are being spread with hatred, prejudice or an intention to create hostility against Nagaland and its people, that too cannot be ignored. The Assam Police should consider whether the circulation of unverified allegations that could disturb inter-state harmony warrants a suo motu inquiry. The objective should not be to silence criticism but to establish facts and prevent misinformation from becoming a source of conflict. Natural disasters are serious enough without turning them into instruments of blame. Assam and Nagaland need cooperation, not suspicion. The truth about the floods must come from evidence, not prejudice.