Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has firmly dismissed online fear-mongering over China's influence on the Brahmaputra River, calling it a baseless and panic-driven narrative, allegedly pushed by Pakistani circles.

The controversy erupted following a viral post on social media that speculated: "What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?" Sarma, known for his assertive stance, swiftly countered the claim with data, clarity, and a powerful nationalistic tone.

"Let’s dismantle this myth, not with fear, but with facts and national clarity," Sarma wrote on X (formerly Twitter), setting the tone for his fact-based rebuttal.

According to Sarma, China contributes only 30–35% of the Brahmaputra's flow, primarily through glacial melt and limited rainfall in the Tibetan region. A whopping 65–70% of the river’s volume is generated within India, making the Brahmaputra a largely rain-fed Indian river system.

“The Brahmaputra is not a river India depends on upstream — it is a rain-fed Indian river system, strengthened after entering Indian territory,” Sarma explained.

India's Mighty Contribution to Brahmaputra’s Flow:

Sarma outlined the river's vast internal contributors, which include:

Heavy monsoon rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya

Major tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, and Kopili

Inflows from Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi rivers

He also revealed key hydrological data, showing that while the river’s discharge near the Indo-China border (Tuting) is around 2,000–3,000 cubic metres/second, it dramatically swells to 15,000–20,000 cubic metres/second upon reaching the Assam plains during monsoon — powered entirely by Indian rainfall and tributaries.

“China’s Hypothetical Control Is a Misguided Panic”

In a sharp observation, Sarma added that even in the unlikely event of China reducing flow — something it has never threatened officially — it might actually help mitigate annual floods in Assam, which affect lakhs of people and cause widespread devastation.

“Even if China were to reduce water flow, it may actually help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam,” he noted, highlighting an ironic benefit.

Targeting Pakistan: “A Panic Born from Strategic Shifts”

Turning his attention to Pakistan, Sarma accused the neighbouring country of trying to manufacture panic following India’s strategic rethinking of the Indus Waters Treaty.

“Pakistan — which has exploited 74 years of preferential water access under the Indus Waters Treaty — now panics as India rightfully reclaims its sovereign rights,” he asserted.

A Message of Resilience

Sarma concluded his statement with a message that merged geography with national pride.

“The Brahmaputra is not controlled by a single source — it is powered by our geography, our monsoon, and our civilisational resilience,” he declared, underlining India’s natural and sovereign control over the river’s lifeline.