Bhagalpur: Masadhu village in Sabour block of Bhagalpur district has been left in ruins after severe flooding caused by the Ganga River’s erosion. The entire village is now submerged, with homes, roads, and public infrastructure wiped away. Desperate villagers are clinging to the hope of compensation from the government, but so far, there has been little support beyond a community kitchen.
The devastation began on September 2 when the river’s erosion engulfed a water tower worth ₹14 lakhs. Soon after, more than 30 homes were swept away, leaving families without shelter. The village road, a water tank, a community hall, a Kisan Bhawan, and even a temple have all vanished into the river. Villagers have been forced to relocate to higher ground as the relentless erosion continues.
Aryan, a local resident, shared the heart-wrenching situation: “Ganga has separated us from our loved ones. Seventy homes have been swallowed by the river, and many families have fled to higher places. Our once-thriving village is now deserted.”
The road connecting Masadhu village to NH-80 has also been submerged, further isolating the village. The remaining residents face severe shortages of clean drinking water. Aryan added, “There are families with multiple sons who built their own homes, but the government is only offering compensation to one member per family. What will that accomplish? We demand land and housing for all those who lost their homes, along with financial assistance.”
For the people of Masadhu, mostly daily wage laborers, the destruction of their homes is a devastating blow. Their hard-earned money had been invested in building their dream homes, which have now been lost. “The Water Resources Department spent lakhs on anti-erosion work, but they couldn’t save an inch of land,” Aryan lamented. “We watched helplessly as our homes disappeared into the river.”
The once vibrant village, where children’s laughter filled the air, is now eerily silent. Residents, especially women, spend hours staring at the riverbanks, waiting for help that has yet to come.
Local authorities are yet to announce a compensation plan for the flood-affected families, leaving many wondering how they will rebuild their lives. Residents of Masadhu are pleading for immediate government intervention to provide land, housing, and financial support to help them recover from the disaster.
