Sivasagar, July 30: Two bodies were recovered from beneath thick layers of silt in a flood-affected village in Assam’s Sivasagar district on Wednesday as residents returned to their homes after floodwaters receded.
The bodies were discovered in Nepalikhuti village during a clean-up operation, with villagers removing mud and debris from damaged houses and surrounding areas to assess the extent of destruction caused by the recent floods.
According to local residents, one body was found near the riverbank, with only the legs visible above the silt, while the rest of the body remained buried under mud and sediment. The second body was recovered from beneath a thick layer of deposited silt near the residence of a local resident.
“We all came back to our village today. While cleaning our homes, we found two dead bodies. We immediately informed the Gaonburha and the police administration,” a villager said.
Residents believe both victims were completely buried under the sediment carried by floodwaters. One of the deceased is suspected to be a local woman who had been reported missing during the floods, although authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities.
Police and civil administration officials were informed immediately after the discovery. The bodies are expected to be recovered formally, identified and sent for post-mortem examination as per procedure.
Nepalikhuti was among the worst-affected villages in Upper Assam during the recent floods, which forced residents to evacuate after widespread inundation damaged homes and infrastructure.
With floodwaters gradually receding, villagers have started returning to their homes, many of which remain buried under thick layers of mud and silt. Residents fear that more missing persons could still be trapped beneath the accumulated sediment, prompting continued search efforts in the area.