Incessant rain inundates low-lying city areas, triggers two landslides

Guwahati: Incessant rain for the last 24 hours in the city triggered urban floods in a vast part, mostly low-lying localities, of the city disrupting normal life and triggering two landslides. However, no casualty has been reported in the landslides.Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Jayanagar, Gandhi Basti and Hatigaon were the worst-affected localities. Commuters had to wade through knee-deep water in many areas. The waterlogging triggered traffic congestions in many parts of the city, including BK Kakati Road, B Baruah Road and Zoo Road among others.Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) commissioner MN Dahal said though waterlogging has happened due to incessant rainfall in several low-lying localities in the city, either the water drained out naturally or was drained out using pumps in various parts of the city.“Accumulated water is draining out in an hour this year. Moreover, GMC carried out de-siltation of the drains very effectively this year, which has helped manage the urban floods,” he added.On the Indian Meteorological Department’s prediction of incessant rainfall for the next five days in the city, the commissioner said the GMC is fully prepared to deal with the situation. Apart from GMC, the public works department, water resources department and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority are also responsible for urban flood management in the city.A resident of the Gadhi Basti area said they have been facing waterlogging for many years now but the GMC did not desilt the drains properly.“Prior to the monsoon, although the GMC desilts the drains, the extracts are left dumped by the side, which later goes back into the drains, making the entire exercise a futile one,” the resident added.Two incidents of landslides in separate locations were also reported — one at Bhaskar Nagar area and the other at Baikunthapur. A house was partially damaged by the landslide at Bhaskar Nagar while a guard wall of the Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden collapsed due to incessant rain.Range officer of the state zoo, Indrani Borgohain, said the brick wall collapsed due to continuous pressure from silt and water flowing down from the adjacent hills. “People need not worry about attacks by wild animals. The animals in the zoo are held captive, except a few herds of ‘barking deer’ in the Hengerabari reserve, which are not dangerous. The area will be fenced soon,” she added.

Monsoon imminent, but drain desilting remains unfinished

The Tambaram Corporation in Chennai is facing delays in completing the desilting of drains, raising concerns about potential flooding during the upcoming monsoon season. Despite a budget allocation of 40 crore, only 50% of the work has been completed. Drains in various zones of the city are clogged with debris and garbage, posing a risk of water pollution and diseases. The corporation has instructed ward councillors to oversee the desilting process and plans to streamline the tendering process. Activists and residents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures.

Three hours of heavy rain floods Guwahati areas

Heavy showers in Guwahati after days of scorching heat caused flash floods in several parts of the city. The city received 56 mm of rainfall, leading to severe traffic congestion and stranded commuters. The newly constructed Nilachal flyover and Boripara flyover were also inundated. Ferry services between Guwahati and North Guwahati were suspended, and an ICC World Cup warm-up match between India and England was washed out. The India Meteorological Department issued a "yellow" alert with warnings of thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain in several districts of the state.

Pothole worries after incessant rains

The city of Kochi in India has been hit by heavy rains, leading to potholes forming on several interior roads. Although the city was not flooded this monsoon season, the excessive rainfall has deteriorated the condition of these roads, posing a threat to commuters. Some of the affected roads include Chittoor Road, Thammanam-Pullepady Road, and P V Antony Road. The local body plans to carry out patchworks to repair the potholes, but experts suggest that Kochi needs adaptation and mitigation methods to address the impact of climate change-induced rainfall events.