While Homes and Infrastructure are Submerged, The City Comes To A Standstill Under The Relentless Fury of Floods and Monsoon Rains.
Turning the streets into rivers and the homes into islands, the heavy rainfall on Guwahati brought Assam’s capital city to its knees. The sudden harsh downpours witnessed on Tuesday resulted in the submersion of low-line infrastructure like Anil Nagar Zoo Road and GS Road. This directly resulted in the residents and businesses being stranded. As the water levels continue to rise, the infrastructure of the city is pleading for help as this is seeomg the cities worst flooding during this monsoon season.
“I Have stacked beds on top of furniture, but the water continues to rise and my children have not had a proper meal ever since yesterday,” a Bhangagarh woman who is also a wife and mother Rina Das said. This was accompanied by the nightmares facing public commuters, as street-blocking roads RG Baruah and AT Roads became in accessible for students and office attendees. Rachee Rajiv, a lamenting auto-rick shaw driver said “The city is absolutely drowning, and nobody is prepared for the dumbing the see it submerged in waters like these”Why Guwahati’s flood issues are more complex than just rainfall.
Monsoon seasons pose no problem for the state of Assam, but experts cite rampant urban development, blocked up drainage systems, and deforestation as reasons that worsen the flooding. “Waterlogging is bound to happen as long as the infrastructure and wetlands in a city are replaced by concrete. It’s simple biology”, said Dr. Pranab Sharma, an environmentalist. Videos from social media bombarded timelines showing residents desperately swimming for life and flooded hospitals and rescues in waist-deep water to escape congested vehicles.
Government provides feedback saying relief camps have been set up but are they adequate?
While the Assam state disaster management authority ASDMA deploys boats towards rescable regions to tend to those in need and set up relief centers in schools, anger still simmers underneath the residents due to the delays. Priyanka Deka, a student activist stated: “Why haven’t any authorities taken the necessary steps to clear the drains with the predictions of torrential rainfall?”
Expect more rainfall
The Brahmaputra river is currently on the rise like most other rivers. They are bound to rise along with the rest of the rivers too raising fear for the community.
How others are bound to emerge on it.
As the locals continue to help one another cope with the situation, stories of assistance reveal themselves.
The elderly were brought food in dinghies, while groups on social media collaborated to assist in search and rescue efforts. Words of Arjun Mehta, a college student who aided in relocating neighbors to higher floors: “We’ve lost power, but not hope.”
What You Can Do to Stay Safe
Avoid travel unless necessary.
Stock up on drinking water and other essentials.
Check ASDMA updates on Twitter (@sdma_assam).
A City’s Resilience Tested Again
The floods in Guawahati highlight an area that is in need of continual assessment, scrutiny, and plan of action. The residents, for now, mourn for any respite while enduring additional rainfall. Guwahati floods require a prayer for accountability. Ananya Barua, a teacher, poses the question: “We endure this nightmare every year, but when will they thrive?”
