Guwahati, 6th August: Torrential rain struck Assam’s capital, Guwahati, on Monday, causing severe waterlogging across the city and leading to significant disruptions. The heavy rainfall resulted in widespread flooding, leaving commuters and school students stranded for hours.
Peripheral roads throughout the city experienced significant water accumulation, leading to prolonged traffic jams and delays. Residents, including office workers, schoolchildren, and ambulances, were reported to be stuck until late in the evening.
Pranoy Sharma shared his distress, recounting how he had to walk three kilometers to retrieve his daughter, who had been stranded in her school bus due to the flooding.
In response to the severe conditions, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has ordered the closure of all educational institutions within the city for Tuesday, August 6. This directive, issued under Section 30.2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is intended to safeguard public safety amid ongoing flash floods.
The district commissioner’s office confirmed the closure, stating, “In view of the situation arising out of the flash flood caused by heavy rains in Guwahati city on August 5, 2024, all Educational Institutes (both Government and Private) are hereby declared closed on August 6, 2024, within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation area.”
Areas including Zoo Road, RG Baruah Road, GS Road, and others faced severe waterlogging. Residents also reported power outages affecting many parts of the city.
Handique Girls’ College Assistant Professor Pallavi Deka described her ordeal, stating it took her four hours to travel six kilometers, with an additional hour on foot due to the flooding. “I have never seen such a situation in Guwahati,” she told PTI.
The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
Political leaders have criticized the handling of the situation. Assam Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah lambasted the city’s development, saying, “Smart City smarting under unprecedented vikash it has seen since 2016. You can’t use the flyovers if the roads below are flooded.”
Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the situation, attributing it to the “inefficiency of the minister concerned.”
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