Shocking Claims: 3 BJP MLAs Blamed for Deadly Assam Floods [Investigation Demanded]

Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has directly accused three BJP legislators, including a minister, of being responsible for the recent deadly floods in eastern Assam. Gogoi alleges their involvement in a powerful syndicate controlling illegal coal and stone mining along the Assam-Nagaland border, particularly impacting the Dikhow River, which he claims exacerbated the natural calamity. The accusations highlight a contentious political dispute over the causes of the devastating floods that claimed over 100 lives and affected millions.

MLA Akhil Gogoi blames 3 BJP legislators for Assam floods.
Allegations center on a mining syndicate along the Dikhow River.
Gogoi refutes CM's 'cloudburst' claim, citing human-made factors.

Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi broke his silence on the devastation caused by floods in Assam during a press conference at his Guwahati residence on Saturday, August 22, 2026. He directly alleged that three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, including a Minister, were responsible for the deaths and widespread devastation caused by floods in parts of eastern Assam. The accusation comes amidst the state grappling with the aftermath of the severe floods that claimed numerous lives and displaced millions between April and August.

Mr. Gogoi specifically named Water Resources Minister Sushanta Borgohain, Sonari MLA Dharmeswar Konwar, and Nazira MLA Mayur Borgohain as responsible for the floods. "They control the syndicate involved in mining activities along the Dikhow River," he stated during a Facebook Live session. The Dikhow is identified as the largest river flowing into Assam from Nagaland. The Minister represents the Demow Assembly constituency in Sivasagar district, while Nazira is also in Sivasagar district, and Sonari is in Charaideo district. Gogoi also questioned how the Chief Minister and Mines and Minerals Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah could be unaware of the alleged activities of their cabinet colleague and two BJP legislators.

The floods between April and August claimed at least 105 lives and affected more than 7.5 lakh people. Flash floods, primarily caused by heavy rainfall in the hills of Nagaland, inflicted much of the damage in Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts. While Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had attributed the flooding to a cloudburst, Mr. Gogoi refuted this claim. He listed several human-made factors for the calamity, including rampant coal mining along the Assam-Nagaland border and damage to natural river protection structures along the Dikhow river.

Assam's vulnerability to floods is a recurring tragedy, affecting vast swathes of the state annually. While heavy monsoon rains are a primary cause, experts and environmentalists have long highlighted the impact of human activities such as illegal mining and deforestation, which destabilize riverbanks and exacerbate the severity of flooding. This historical context provides a grim backdrop to Gogoi's allegations, intensifying the debate on the human dimension of natural disasters.

Mr. Gogoi further substantiated his claims by citing a study conducted by a special team equipped with drones. He revealed that among several factors behind the flood, the team identified five cofferdams constructed across the Dikhow river in areas where stone mining was taking place. The Raijor Dal president explained that these cofferdams, constructed with narrow openings for water to pass through, created a 350-km-long reservoir upstream of the Dikhow, significantly adding to the intensity of the flood. He also alleged that the protective stone embankments were excavated in a 25-km stretch, leaving the areas vulnerable to flooding, which in turn damaged tea gardens in the vicinity.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that such serious allegations against members of the ruling party not only stir the political landscape but also raise critical questions about environmental governance and accountability in disaster management. If these claims are substantiated, they unveil a disturbing nexus between illegal resource extraction and the amplification of natural calamities, necessitating an impartial and thorough investigation.

Experts contend that unchecked human activities like illegal mining and damage to riverbanks often exacerbate the frequency and intensity of floods by disrupting natural drainage systems and increasing riverine erosion.

Mr. Gogoi also heavily criticized the flood relief and rescue operations, alleging that only about 10% of the required relief reached affected people. He claimed that some of the rice distributed had a foul smell, and the mattresses provided to flood victims were of poor quality and unfit even for livestock.

Did You Know?: The Brahmaputra River system, which flows through Assam, is one of the largest river systems in the world and is known for its vast drainage basin and seasonal flooding, impacting the lives of millions.