Guwahati, Aug. 5 -- It has been a harrowing time for us in Assam, where the death toll continues to rise and millions of people have been affected by the devastating floods that have ravaged the state throughout this month. This has been the worst flood situation in Assam in many years. The crisis took an unprecedented turn with the sudden inundation of vast areas in the Charaideo and Sivasagar districts, where the plight of the victims prompted people across Assam to stand alongside the government in flood relief and reconstruction efforts.

The annual flooding of the Brahmaputra floodplains is not new to the people of Assam. However, this year's unexpected deluge in the Charaideo and Sivasagar districts has drawn widespread attention to...