New Delhi/Guwahati: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has ignited a fresh political and public debate after releasing a video that questions both the government's flood management and the national media's coverage of the devastating floods in Assam.
In the video, Rathee claims Assam is witnessing one of its worst flood disasters in decades, yet the crisis has failed to receive the national attention it deserves. According to the figures cited in the video, more than 80 people have lost their lives, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and large numbers of families are living in relief camps.
Rathee highlights accounts from flood victims, alleging that water levels rose dramatically within hours, forcing residents to spend the night on rooftops, trees, and other elevated locations to survive.
The video also accuses sections of the national media of giving limited coverage to the humanitarian crisis. Rathee argues that if a similar disaster had struck another major region of the country, it would likely have dominated national headlines.
Questioning political accountability, Rathee points to repeated election promises of a "flood-free Assam" and alleges that despite years of assurances, residents continue to face recurring devastation without a lasting solution.
The video further criticizes the state's flood management strategy, raising concerns over embankment failures, ineffective dredging projects, and administrative shortcomings. Citing experts, Rathee argues that climate change, extreme rainfall, deforestation, and poor long-term planning have significantly worsened the flood situation.
Rathee also states that a river as massive as the Brahmaputra cannot be controlled by embankments alone. Instead, he calls for stronger disaster preparedness, modern early warning systems, elevated flood shelters, improved relief operations, and community-level disaster management—drawing comparisons with Japan's approach to managing natural disasters.
Disclaimer: This report is based on claims, opinions, and analysis presented by Dhruv Rathee in his video. The responses of the Government of India, the Assam Government, or the concerned authorities have not been included in this report.