Heavy rain lashed Assam’s capital Guwahati on Monday, leading to severe waterlogging in several areas and causing major disruptions for residents and commuters. The torrential downpour resulted in significant inconvenience, with many people, including commuters, school children, and even ambulances, being stuck in traffic for hours on the inundated roads.
The city administration responded by ordering the closure of all educational institutions on Tuesday due to the inclement weather. In an official communique, the Kamrup Metropolitan administration, which primarily covers Guwahati City, stated: "Given the flash flood caused by heavy rains in Guwahati City, all educational institutes, both government and private, including colleges and coaching centers, will remain closed tomorrow within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation area."
Waterlogging was reported in numerous areas across the city, including Zoo Road, RG Baruah Road, GS Road, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, Hedayetpur, MLA quarters in Dispur, Lachit Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, Rajgarh Road, Jorabat, and Chatribari, among others. The flooding led to major traffic snarls, leaving people stranded in their vehicles for extended periods.
Pranoy Sharma, a resident of the city, shared his harrowing experience: "My daughter is a Class-3 student and she left her school at 1:30 pm. But, the school bus continued to be stuck at Choy Mile. I also could not take out my car. So, I walked around three km and just met her," he said, holding his daughter in his arms on a flooded street.
Residents also reported power cuts in many areas, adding to the difficulties caused by the heavy rainfall. Pallavi Deka, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Handique Girls' College, recounted her ordeal: "From my college, it took me around four hours to travel 6 km. I had to park my car on the road and walk for another hour to reach home around 11 pm. I have never seen such a situation in Guwahati," she told PTI.
The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland in the coming days. This warning suggests that the region could experience more severe weather, potentially exacerbating the current situation.
Political leaders in Assam have also commented on the situation, criticizing the handling of the crisis. Assam Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration: "Smart City smarting under unprecedented vikash it has seen since 2016. You can't use the flyovers if the roads below are flooded. Tall claims of development gone down the drain."
Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad voiced his concerns about the government's response, stating, "It is unfortunate that common people are suffering due to the inefficiency of the minister concerned."
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the heavy rainfall, the focus remains on mitigating the impact on daily life and ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents. The closure of educational institutions and the continued monitoring of weather forecasts are part of ongoing efforts to manage the situation and provide relief to those affected by the flooding.
