Indian Diocese Appeals for Help as Floods Destroy Homes, Church in Assam

The Diocese of Dibrugarh in northeastern India has appealed for support as it shifts from emergency relief to long-term rehabilitation following severe monsoon floods that devastated communities across Upper Assam.

The diocese is calling on charitable organizations, mission agencies, institutions, corporate partners, and individuals to help families rebuild their homes and livelihoods after floodwaters swept through parts of Charaideo, Jorhat, and Sivasagar districts.

Among the losses was St. Thomas Church in Parsiparlo, which was completely washed away before parishioners could save any of its contents. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed or badly damaged, leaving many families in temporary shelters.

Since the flooding began, the Diocese of Dibrugarh has mobilized priests, religious, parish communities, volunteers, and benefactors to provide relief to affected residents regardless of religion or community.

The first phase of relief reached flood-hit villages in Charaideo district, including Kona, Lakwa, and Nahorhabi, where families received food and other essential supplies. In a second phase, the diocese assisted 106 families with food, drinking water, soybeans, and hygiene kits.

With floodwaters receding, the diocese said the greatest challenge is now rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods. Many families have returned to find their houses destroyed, while farmland remains buried under silt, leaving crops and sources of income severely affected.

According to official figures, the floods claimed about 80 lives across Assam and affected more than 212,000 people in eight districts. Unlike the region's annual flooding caused by the Brahmaputra River, this year's disaster was intensified by cloudburst-triggered flooding in several tributaries, causing widespread destruction.

The diocese is seeking financial assistance as well as donations of roofing sheets, bamboo, household utensils, bedding, hygiene supplies, and livelihood materials to support rehabilitation efforts.

Church leaders expressed gratitude to priests, religious congregations, benefactors, and volunteers who responded to the emergency, saying their support enabled timely assistance to vulnerable families.

As recovery efforts continue, the Diocese of Dibrugarh said it remains committed to accompanying affected communities as they rebuild their lives after one of the region's worst flood disasters in recent years.