Sivasagar: Floods have robbed families in Nemai Jan and Betbari of homes, dignity, privacy and health, forcing them to defecate in the open.Though the flood situation near Sivasagar Town railway station has stabilised, parts of the area and several houses remain inundated, leaving displaced residents without access to toilets.“We have been living in a nearby church, and there are no public toilets in our area. After our homes were submerged, relieving ourselves out in the open has become our only option. We have no other choice,” said Bijoy Miz, a resident of the area.Residents have built a makeshift raft from banana stems to reach an open field. Men spend 10 to 15 minutes rowing across floodwaters to find dry ground to relieve themselves, describing the ordeal as humiliating.Women rely on toilets near the railway station, where long queues and unhygienic conditions compound their hardship. At times, they must seek permission to use toilets in homes spared by the floods.“I am currently sharing a space with seven other people at our neighbour’s house. There are not enough toilets for everyone, so some of us have to depend on the railway station washrooms. By the time our turn comes, the toilets are often too dirty to use comfortably,” said Minu Bordoloi, another resident.Residents said the toilet crisis prompted them to reduce their food and water intake to avoid relieving themselves frequently.
