Assam Launches Emergency Mission to Digitise Flood-Damaged Manuscripts

Guwahati: Government teams are fanning out across Assam to rescue historic manuscripts from the threat of floodwaters. They are targeting Satras and private homes. These documents hold centuries of religious and cultural history. Moisture and standing water pose an immediate risk to the fragile, handwritten pages.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the effort on Wednesday, August 26. He tagged the work as a "quiet but vital" part of the state's flood response. The teams aim to both physically secure the documents and create digital copies for long-term storage.

The recovery effort treats historical preservation as a priority alongside saving lives and property. Officials want to ensure the contents survive even if the original physical documents succumb to damage. The state intends to reach every custodian holding these materials throughout the region.