Rain triggers flash floods in Silchar, residents blame clogged drains

Silchar: The first spell of rain on Sunday triggered flash floods in several parts of Silchar, leaving many areas waterlogged and disrupting normal life across the town.Among the worst-hit localities were Bilpar, Padmanagar and Mandir Dighi, where rainwater accumulated on roads and entered residential areas. Several streets remained submerged for hours, forcing commuters and pedestrians to wade through knee-deep water.Residents alleged that incomplete and clogged drains worsened the situation by preventing rainwater from flowing out properly. Angry locals blamed the town’s poor drainage system and termed the proposed master drain project for Silchar a “sham,” saying waterlogging continues to plague the area every year despite repeated assurances from the authorities.Some residents also warned of a vote boycott, alleging that their local MLA and MP visit the area only during elections to seek votes and ignore public suffering during the rest of their five-year term.One resident said repeated appeals to the authorities to complete work on Singirkhal and clear the blocked channel had yielded no result. The channel remains clogged, the resident alleged, worsening the situation, particularly for people living in Bilpar during the rains.Locals urged the authorities to immediately clear blocked drains and complete pending drainage work to prevent further flooding if heavy rainfall continues in the coming days.