# Assam to restore flood-damaged Darika Silsakoo with ancient mortar 2026-08-24T05:59:42+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Assam directorate of archaeology will begin restoring the 17th-century Darika Silsakoo stone bridge in Sivasagar, which was damaged by this year's floods. The conservation will use a traditional mortar recipe containing lime, brick surkhi, molasses, bel gum, methi, white kattha and myrobalan. Archaeologists will dismantle, document and reassemble damaged sections using the anastylosis method. Two downstream piers lost ancient stone masonry due to scouring and turbulent water. Algae has grown on submerged parts. Immediate measures include desiltation, bamboo palisading and installation of a coffer dam. The mortar is being analysed to match the original recipe, though some synthetic materials may be needed since the structure sits in water. The bridge was built during the reign of Swargadeo Pratap Singha (1603-41 CE). At least seven of 13 inundated heritage sites across Sivasagar and Charaideo districts will need urgent restoration, including the Piyali Phukanar Doul, Gauri Ballav Devalaya and Hara Gauri Temple, where a brick boundary wall has collapsed. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The Darika Silsakoo was built under Swargadeo Pratap Singha, who ruled the Ahom kingdom in the early 17th century. The Ahom dynasty, which governed Assam for nearly 600 years until the British annexation in 1838, left numerous masonry and earthen structures across the Brahmaputra valley. Many of these, including maidams (burial mounds) and temples, are now under the state archaeology department's care. The floods submerged 13 protected sites for over three weeks. With the monsoon season not over, further damage is possible before restoration even begins. The government's next budget allocation for heritage conservation, expected in February, will show whether this traditional approach gets sustained funding. ## Coverage - assamtribune.com Led with the traditional restoration method and official plan details, no criticism or political angle This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Assam Directorate of Archaeology, Darika Silsakoo, Sivasagar Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/assam-to-restore-flood-damaged-darika-silsakoo-with-ancient-mortar/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/assam-to-restore-flood-damaged-darika-silsakoo-with-ancient-mortar/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/