Heavy rain inundates Guwahati, normal life affected
Heavy rain inundates Guwahati, normal life affected
A spell of heavy rain overnight inundated several roads and residential areas in Assam’s Guwahati while water level reached up to the chest in several localities
A water pump being used to drain water from a flooded street
into a canal after rain, in Guwahati, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (PTI Photo)
GUWAHATI — A spell of heavy rain overnight inundated several roads and
residential areas in Assam’s Guwahati, disrupting vehicular movement and
causing inconvenience to residents of the city on Tuesday.
People were seen wading through knee-deep waters in some
areas of the city while the water level reached up to the chest in several
localities.
Inundation was reported from Zoo Road, Nabin Nagar,
Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, Gita Nagar, Maligaon, Hedayetpur, Guwahati Club, Ulubari,
Lachit Nagar, Chandmari and Panjabari.
The overnight downpour also led to waterlogging in GS Road
Jorabat, Tarun Nagar, Jatia, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, Rukmini Gaon,
Survey and Chatribari, among others.
Many schools, where internal examinations are going on, have
announced closure in the morning due to "flooded" campus and roads
across the city, as most of the school buses have stopped their services.
As the day progressed, traffic jams were reported from
almost all localities in the city with vehicles stranded due to waterlogging on
roads.
Rainwater accumulated in hundreds of houses in the ‘smart’
city, and there were reports of power cuts in many areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted
inclement weather over Assam for the next 2–3 days, with heavy to very heavy
rainfall expected across various parts of the state.
"As per rainfall data recorded on May 20, 2025, several
locations in and around Guwahati have already received substantial
precipitation, including 112.5 mm at the Guwahati AWS station," an
official release said.
The weather pattern suggests that both western and southern
parts of Assam are likely to witness more intense rainfall episodes over the
coming days, potentially reaching up to 200 mm in isolated locations.
"In Guwahati city, continued downpours could aggravate
water logging, slow vehicular movement, and increase the risk of tree falls and
localised landslides in vulnerable pockets," it added.
The civic body authorities are closely monitoring the
situation, and emergency response systems are being kept on alert, the
statement said.
"The public is advised to take all necessary
precautions and remain vigilant. Daily commuters and long-distance travellers
are requested to plan their routines accordingly, avoiding unnecessary movement
during periods of intense rainfall," it added.
The government also advised the residents in low-lying and
hillside areas to stay alert for any signs of flooding or soil erosion.
"The public is also urged to stay tuned to official
weather updates and follow advisories issued by local authorities to ensure
safety during this prolonged spell of rain," it said.
Earlier in the morning, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister
Jayanta Malla Baruah visited some flooded areas by riding a two-wheeler.
"Guwahati witnessed a heavy spell of rain last night,
and it is predicted to continue today also. We have witnessed added problems in
the city due to rainwater coming down from the adjoining Meghalaya hills. We
have some sluice gates, but these are not adequate to control such a huge flow
of water," he told reporters.
The government is trying to pump out flood waters from
residential areas, but it is not very effective as of now, Baruah said.
He also reiterated Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa
Sarma's stand that Meghalaya-based University of Science and Technology Meghalaya
(USTM) carried out a "flood jihad", resulting in massive inundation
in the state capital.
In August last year, Sarma had claimed that the varsity was
"cutting" the hills inside its campus to construct new buildings to
open a medical college.
The USTM is promoted by Mahbubul Hoque, the owner and
chancellor of the varsity, and is located at 9th Mile in Ri-Bhoi district of
Meghalaya on the outskirts of Guwahati.
The Gauhati High Court, in August last year, had said that
the time had come to deal with the problem of flooding in the state capital,
and the government was required to take steps to resolve this problem
permanently, asking to submit a plan to mitigate the crisis.
Stating that the Assam government was "not
serious" in solving perennial waterlogging problems in the state capital,
the Gauhati High Court had come down heavily for not responding to its repeated
notices and slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 each to four departments concerned.
