How Indigenous Traditional Bamboo Houses Are Saving Lives In Flood-Ravaged Assam

At a time when lakhs of people are affected by the deluge and over a hundred have lost their lives in Assam, a village is bracing the floodwater, courtesy some traditional methods of living.

Bamboo houses are saving lives of hundreds of people in inundated areas of Assam, which has witnessed extreme floods over the past two months and a massive loss of property and livestock.

In the state's Golaghat district, one of the worst-affected areas, new houses built with bamboo, cane and rubber, have proved to be strong enough to withstand the floods.

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Back in 2017, when floods ravaged Assam, Golaghat district was among the most-affected areas. However, some non-profits came together to create 80 core houses that are resistant to flooding.

The houses were designed and built in collaboration with the local community in Assam's subdivision of Golaghat, the 80-unit development was inspired from the region's vernacular of stilt houses built from bamboo. Concrete footings and rubberized coatings were introduced to strengthen the elevated, disaster-resilient homes.

Vulnerable to disasters, Assamese communities have developed indigenous construction and planning techniques over the centuries, creating infrastructure that suits the terrain.

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So far, flood-related incidents have claimed 105 lives, including 26 in landslides, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said in its daily flood report.

Ninety animals have died in Kaziranga National Park this monsoon season, it said.

Chief Secretary, Kumar Sanjay Krishna, said there is no problem in flood management as separate teams of government employees have been deployed for flood and COVID-19, currently affecting the state.

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Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Krishna also said, "There is also no problem regarding funds as enough funds have been released to the districts. Doctors are regularly visiting relief camps to monitor the health of the inmates there."

The number of people affected by floods on Friday was 35.76 lakh and the districts affected were 28, but the flood situation improved in Hojai and West Karbi Anglong districts, according to a PTI report.