Guwahati, 6th August: In response to the severe flooding that inundated Guwahati on August 5, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal has attributed the crisis to water flowing in from neighboring Meghalaya, rather than from the city itself. Singhal, in his remarks, noted, “This is not Guwahati’s water; it is Meghalaya’s water. Guwahati’s water is black, but Meghalaya’s is red!” He explained that the red hue of the floodwaters was due to the red soil from Meghalaya.
The unprecedented rainfall resulted in approximately 50 percent of the floodwater originating from Meghalaya, leading to widespread waterlogging across Guwahati. The city’s drainage system, already strained, could not handle the volume of water, with Chandmari recording 136 mm of rainfall in just one and a half hours. Singhal admitted that the magnitude of the rainfall was beyond the city’s existing infrastructure’s capacity.
Residents faced severe disruptions, with many stranded until midnight trying to reach their homes. Singhal expressed his concern over the difficulties faced by the city’s inhabitants. “I am deeply saddened by this situation,” he said.
The flood’s impact extended beyond urban areas, damaging parts of the national highway and GS Road. The Assam government is actively working on projects to divert excess water to Silsako and Deepor Beel in hopes of mitigating future flooding and managing the current crisis more effectively.
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