Dhemaji: Flood-hit Amtola villagers in Assam's Lakhimpur district stare at an uncertain future with the administration not being able to look beyond routine relief.

Nearly 50 families are still staying at a makeshift shelter since July 9, after a breach in the Ranganadi dyke.

The affected villagers from Amtola, Joinpur, Bogalijan, Gaurighat, Balijan and Majgaon are compelled to lead nomadic lives, having to battle the bitterly cold December wind.

Majgaon, Joinpur, Gourighat, and Balijan were the worst affected. At least 11 houses were completely washed away.

"No one is here after five months to share our grief," said Sanjiv Das, headman of Joinpur village. "The floodwaters washed away everything and left our fields with heavy silt. Nothing can be grown there," he said.

"We can't shift to other places because of the fear that anywhere we go we might have to face eviction like at Amchang. For many years we will have to lead life on barren land, fighting for survival. Some of us go to Lakhimpur town to work as daily wagers. The relief given to us comprising tin and tarpaulin is not sufficient for survival," Das said.

Nayanjyoti Saikia wept; her newborn had died four days after birth. "I stay with my three-year-old child amid so much struggle," she said.

Lakhimpur deputy commissioner Barun Bhuyan told The Telegraph on Tuesday: "We are providing the affected peoples two bundles of GCI sheets, five tarpaulins and a water filter."

When asked about land for rehabilitation, Bhuyan said the villagers have their own land, so there is no need of land allotment. He said within a year the silted fields would be fit for cultivation.

Dilip Dutta, agriculture officer in Lakhimpur, said they have trained the youths with modern technology and they have shown good results in growing vegetables. He said with hard labour the land would become suitable for farming within a year or two.

The devastating floods in July continued for a week. After the water receded, Amtala revenue circle was left in ruins - damaged houses, farms buried under silt, hundreds of livestock dead. Similar was the fate of Bogolijan where another breach of embankment occurred.