The 2022 Silchar Floods were floods that occurred in the state of Assam, India beginning 19 June 2022 as a part of 2022 Assam–Bangladesh floods due to a breach of dyke of the Barak River at Bethkundi. The flooding affected 5.4 million people across 32 districts and caused the deaths of over 200[2] people across the affected districts.[3][1]Silchar town, located just 1 km from the dyke was the worst affected, with 90 percent of the town underwater.[4] While there are several reasons that caused the floods in the region to the extent that it did, there is a definite man-made aspect to the degree of damage that it caused. The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sharma also noted this in his address to the people.[5]
On 2 July, one man named Kabul Khan was arrested for breaching the embankment which caused the floods. He had also taken a video of the breach.[6] By 6 July, 3 more people were arrested for the deed.[7] The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the flood was a man made calamity and those responsible would face a harsh punishment.[8] He termed the act as a sabotage.[9]
Silchar town remained submerged for 11 days, with water rising up to 12 feet (3.7 metres) in some places.[9]
