Sivasagar: A vehicle swept away by flash floodwaters remains partially submerged in muddy water following heavy rain in Sivasagar district, Assam, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
Mon, July 31 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) has categorically denied allegations that floods in parts of Assam were caused by water released from a dam in Mon District or by illegal mining activities in the district’s Naginimora area, clarifying that “no hydroelectric dam or reservoir exists in Mon District at all.”
The apex tribal body’s response comes after a video circulating on social media, along with reports in a section of the media, claimed that Assam MLA Akhil Gogoi and Assamese Youth Forum general secretary Akash Saikia had attributed the ongoing floods in Assam to the release of water from a purported “Dikhu Hydro Electric Project” in Mon District, and to alleged illegal coal mining activities in the Naginimora area.
The KU in its clarification said that the Dikhu Hydro Electric Project has remained only a proposed project listed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and has neither been constructed nor commissioned. “Therefore, the allegation that floodwaters were released from a dam from Dikhu is entirely baseless, misleading and without any factual foundation,” it stated.
On the allegations linking the floods to reported illegal coal mining in Naginimora, the union said its field assessment and available information found no evidence to support the claims. The flooding, it said, did not originate from the Naginimora mining area but began in the higher hill ranges of Mon District following exceptionally heavy rainfall and cloudburst-like downpours. This triggered widespread landslides, flash floods, and overflowing rivers and streams across several parts of the district before eventually affecting Naginimora and Tizit.
Recalling the scale of the disaster, the KU said Mon District witnessed one of the worst natural calamities in its recent history following unprecedented rainfall and cloudburst-like downpours on July 19 and 20. The disaster claimed 11 lives, destroyed homes, schools, shops, agricultural fields, tea gardens, businesses and livestock, displaced more than 650 families, and severely disrupted road connectivity, electricity and communication networks across the entire district, leaving thousands in distress.
The union expressed regret that such allegations were made while the people of Mon District were still recovering from the disaster, calling it “deeply unfortunate” that blame was being shifted onto them at such a time. It said public representatives and responsible organisations have a duty to verify facts before making statements that could create misunderstanding, panic and disharmony between the people of Assam and Nagaland, who share long-standing cordial and brotherly relations.
Natural disasters, the KU stressed, should never be politicised or used to promote speculative narratives without scientific evidence or official verification. It said any inquiry into the causes of the flooding should be based on credible technical assessments by competent authorities and expert agencies rather than assumptions.
The union urged individuals and organisations to act responsibly and refrain from spreading unverified or misleading information. It cautioned that if any untoward incidents arise as a result of such misinformation, “those responsible may be held accountable in accordance with the law.”
Reaffirming its commitment to peace and to strengthening ties between the two states, the KU appealed to the media and the public to refrain from circulating unverified claims that could strain the cordial relationship between Nagaland and Assam and their people.
