North Lakhimpur, July 28 -- The morning of May 31 brought devastating news to Toon Dutta, a 45-year-old mother of two from Simaluguri, Major Chapori, Aamtola-Panigaon in Assam's Lakhimpur district. Her son urgently told her that NEEPCO was releasing water from its PHEP dam, and a flash flood was imminent. With no time to save anything, the rising waters swiftly washed away their home and grocery store, destroying all its stock. Their refrigerator and other household belongings were also damaged.

"I took a loan of Rs. 50,000 from the Assam Gramin Vikas Bank as a member of an SHG and invested the entire amount in my grocery store," Toon lamented. "I've paid six EMIs before the flood, but with all my collateral gone in the Ranganadi flood, ...