Banana Raft, 97‑Year‑Old Escape: Assam Floods Rescue Story

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:22:12 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 97‑year‑old woman is carried to safety on a banana raft as Assam floods surge – a heartfelt tale of resilience in the face of climate change.

In the height of Assam’s recent floods, 97‑year‑old Lokada Duarah was rescued from a 5‑foot wall of water by her daughter Bornali on a banana raft. The story highlights the massive threat from rising rivers, the damage to Barre also left her farm—300 goats, 300 ducks and 300 chickens—wide open to loss. The floods affect 1.2 million across 25 districts, overwhelming relief camps and local economies. Yet even amid damage, Bornali holds onto hope and plans to rebuild and adapt so her family can coexist with the future floods.

A 97‑Year‑Old, a Banana Raft, and the Rising Floods of Assam

At 3 a.m. on 19 July, a storm surge had turned Charing village into a sea of water. 97‑year‑old Lokada Duarah, who could barely walk, wrapped in a blanket, sat in a banana‑tree trunk raft, hands gripping the rope that tied the raft to her. Bornali, her daughter, and her husband pulled them from their home into the swirling torrent.

The flood level reached about 5 ft inside the house – a depth that could have stopped the family within minutes. With no formal rescue team or boat, the makeshift raft was their lifeline, keeping them afloat until they reached a safety camp on a national highway.

More than 1.2 million people are now living with flood‑damaged homes across 25 districts in Assam. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries carry record‑high water and sediment, flooding areas that have historically remained dry.

Bornali, once a journalist, turned to animal husbandry in 2016. Her farm, with 300 goats, 500 ducks and 1,000 chickens, was destroyed: almost all livestock died, and essential equipment sank in the water. No insurance covered these losses, leaving Bornali to rebuild from scratch.

While inside a relief camp for ten days, while electricity was out and phones didn’t charge, strangers stepped in. A young woman shared food and tended to 60 surviving goats, showing how communities can patch together during calamities.

The flooding also hurts the wider environment. Scholars say that deforestation, mining, and new infrastructure are increasing river sediment and changing flood patterns. The scientists call for more widespread, basin‑wide planning and inter‑state cooperation.

Back at her home, Bornali is not ready to leave Charing. She’s looking at long‑term adaptation: raising the floor, building a retreat platform, and stockpiling essential supplies. She says she will learn to coexist with future floods instead of fleeing.

In a world that is increasingly changing, Bornali’s story reminds us that resilience comes from community, creativity, and the willingness to adapt.