13/08/2026
My article on current flood depression in
Upper Assam floods: The health crisis that may follow the water.
The floodwaters may eventually recede, but the health crisis can continue long after.
During our medical camps in flood-affected areas of Upper Assam, we witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by displaced families — contaminated drinking water, poor sanitation, overcrowded shelters, disrupted access to medicines and healthcare, and prolonged exposure to water and mud.
One of my special concerns is the threat of water-borne diseases, including acute diarrhoeal illnesses, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A/E. Children and elderly people are particularly vulnerable to dehydration and severe infections.
We must also remain vigilant for encephalitis and other neurological infections, particularly in the post-flood period. Fever, altered sensorium, seizures, severe headache or neurological symptoms should never be ignored and require prompt medical evaluation.
The immediate priorities are simple but critical: safe drinking water, ORS and adequate hydration, nutrition, sanitation, essential medicines, early diagnosis and timely referral.
The floodwater may recede, but the health crisis is far from over. Our focus must now shift from immediate relief to sustained healthcare in the affected communities.
PublicHealth FloodHealthCrisis HealthCrisis SafeDrinkingWater ORS DiarrhoealDisease DiseasePrevention RuralHealthcare MedicalCamp HealthcareForAll Assam Sivasagar FloodAffectedAreas CommunityHealth DisasterMedicine
