Heavy rains cause severe waterlogging in Guwahati, normal life disrupted

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 1, 2024

Heavy rains on Sunday morning caused severe waterlogging across Guwahati, leading to significant disruption for commuters. The downpour resulted in the accumulation of water on almost all peripheral roads in the city, creating a chaotic situation as people were stranded in their vehicles for hours due to heavy traffic.

According to data released by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Guwahati received 10 cm of rainfall during the day.

The rains exacerbated the situation in Guwahati, with areas such as Rukminigaon, Hatigaon, Satgaon, Dwarandha, Sarumotoria, Odalbakra, No 1 Japorigog, No 2 Japorigog, Gotanagar, Bamunimaidan, Noonmati, Chandmari, Beltola, Hatigaon, Six Mile, Noonmati, Panjabari, Zoo Road, Kahilipara, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Ganeshguri, Hedayetpur, MLA quarters in Dispur, Lachit Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, Rajgarh Road, Jorabat and Chatribari being particularly hard-hit by flash floods. The severe waterlogging in these localities caused major disruptions to traffic movement, making it difficult for residents to navigate the streets.

In Rukmini Gaon, the flooding was so severe that people were unable to leave their homes for essential tasks, adding to the frustration and inconvenience.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal said the heavy rains have led to a significant influx of rainwater into various parts of Guwahati, exacerbating the city’s waterlogging woes. “A substantial flow of water has been observed entering the Juripar area through Khanapara, originating from the hills of Meghalaya near Jorabat. Similarly, heavy inflows of rainwater have been reported in the Rukminigaon area, with water entering via Jaya Nagar and the Beltola Bazaar area, coming from the Meghalaya hills near Pilingkata, Maikuli, and Koinadhora,” Singhal said.

Singhal said the city officials and task force teams are actively monitoring the situation and working to mitigate the waterlogging.

A senior official from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) reported that task force teams are actively working in various parts of the city, including Zoo Road, to address the severe waterlogging issues. These teams are focused on cleaning weep holes along the roads to remove blockages that have been caused by silt washed down from nearby hills, as well as by single-use plastics and other solid wastes.

“The accumulation of debris in the drainage systems has been a significant contributor to the waterlogging, and the GMC is taking steps to clear these blockages to mitigate the impact of the heavy rains,” he said.

The GMC’s heavy-duty dewatering pumps are in operation at critical locations, including Rukmini Gaon and Dispur Last Gate, to address the severe flooding caused by the heavy rains. These pumps are being used to remove excess water from the inundated areas, aiming to reduce water levels and alleviate the flooding situation.

“Floodwater levels are slowly going down across the city. Water in areas like Chandmari (opposite the Khadi Board office), Bamunimaidan, GS Road (Rukmini Gaon), Maligaon Chariali and GNB Road are receding. However, given the possibility of heavy rains, GMC urged the city people to remain cautious,” he added.

On Saturday, the IMD had issued a yellow alert warning of possible localized flooding and waterlogging in Dispur and Sonapur from August 31 and September 1.