Guwahati: Seventeen-year-old Janmoni Konwar returned to her family's tarpaulin tent on August 9. She brought home a gold medal from the National Karate Championship in New Delhi. Her home in 2 No. Mojia Bheti, Assam, sits submerged following brutal floods that began in July. The teenager's family now survives on an embankment.
The floods hit the Jorhat district with devastating force. The disaster destroyed the family's fishery, poultry, and home. They planned to sell fish to fund Janmoni's trip to the capital, but the high waters ruined those plans. Her brother, Krishnamoni Konwar, stated, "We had planned to sell the fish and send Janmoni to Delhi for her competition. The floods shattered everything."
Help arrived through Alakh Pandey, founder of Physics Wallah. He sponsored the team's travel and provided ₹3 lakh. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita contributed an additional ₹10,000. These funds enabled Janmoni to compete in the Ashihara form of karate at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium from August 7 to 9.
Janmoni trained on an embankment amidst the wreckage. She has practiced the martial art since age five and previously won bronze in 2023. After flying into Dibrugarh Airport on August 10, she returned to a life of uncertainty. The family expects to live under the tarp until at least November. Janmoni, a Class XII student, now faces the dual task of finishing school and supporting her family's recovery.
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