Brahmaputra erosion displaces hundreds in Dhubri, threatens schools

The Brahmaputra river has intensified erosion along its banks in Assam. In Dhubri district, the erosion has reached residential areas and public facilities.

Scale of displacement

During the 2024 monsoon season, floods triggered 2.5 million internal displacements across Assam . Dhubri recorded the highest district impact, with 560,000 movements, accounting for 22 percent of the state total . By the end of the year, nearly 50,000 people remained displaced in the district .

Impact on homes and schools

Local reports indicate that several hundred families have lost homes and agricultural land to the river’s unchecked erosion in the Fakirganj area of Dhubri (SRC3). The same erosion has engulfed a number of government schools, leaving children without classrooms .

Underlying causes

Experts cite climate change, deforestation and riverbank erosion as key drivers of the heightened flood risk . Soil erosion reduces the riverbed’s capacity, making the water recede more slowly and prolonging displacement . More than half of the 400 embankments built since the 1950s have exceeded their design life, and many have breached due to insufficient maintenance .

Response and mitigation efforts

The Asian Development Bank’s Climate‑Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project aims to stabilise the river and improve livelihoods for about 600,000 rural residents in Assam, including the most vulnerable . Additional financing expands the project to the remaining main river reaches, seeking to strengthen protection works .

Despite these initiatives, on‑ground observations show protection structures failing. In Kamrup district, sections of a multi‑crore geo‑bag embankment collapsed into the Brahmaputra, raising concerns about construction quality and project oversight (SRC4). While this incident is outside Dhubri, it highlights the challenges of safeguarding riverbanks across the state.

Looking ahead

Authorities continue to operate relief centres and provide aid to displaced families The Assam State Disaster Management Authority and the Water Resources Department maintain flood mapping, early warning systems and public awareness campaigns . Ongoing monitoring and the ADB project are expected to address both immediate displacement and long‑term erosion risks.

• 560,000 people displaced in Dhubri during 2024 floods
• Nearly 50,000 remain displaced at year‑end
• Several hundred homes and schools lost to erosion in Fakirganj
• Over half of 400 embankments are past their lifespan
• ADB project targets 600,000 rural residents for improved resilience
• Geo‑bag protection failure observed in Kamrup )