In a rare display of appreciation across political lines, Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi commended Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for personally walking through waist-deep floodwaters to assess the situation in the flood-hit district.
Gogoi, one of the BJP-led Assam government’s most outspoken critics and a long-time political rival of the Chief Minister, described the visit as a historic moment. He said it was the first time he had witnessed an Assam chief minister walking barefoot through severely inundated areas during a flood instead of conducting an inspection from a distance.
Speaking to reporters after accompanying Sarma during the visit, Gogoi said he was pleased to have shown the Chief Minister the actual conditions faced by residents without any ceremonial arrangements or inspections carried out from the safety of heavy machinery.
According to Gogoi, the Chief Minister walked through waist-deep floodwater while heading towards Phuleshwari School, making the visit unprecedented in the state’s history. He said the inspection gave Sarma an opportunity to witness the devastation firsthand and understand the difficulties being endured by flood-affected families.
The Raijor Dal leader said he personally guided the Chief Minister through the inundated area, holding his hand as they moved through the floodwaters. He credited Sarma for undertaking the difficult inspection on foot and remarked that he had not seen any previous Assam chief minister navigate floodwaters in such a manner.
Gogoi added that the visit would remain a historic moment for Sivasagar, as it demonstrated the Chief Minister’s willingness to directly observe the ground situation rather than rely solely on official briefings.
Sarma has been touring the flood-ravaged districts of Upper Assam, particularly Sivasagar and Charaideo, where recent floods caused widespread damage to homes, roads, agricultural land and livelihoods. During his visits, he interacted with affected families, inspected relief camps and assured residents that the state government would provide all necessary assistance for relief, rehabilitation and recovery efforts.
