Guwahati’s stormy struggle
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Guwahati faced significant disruptions on Monday morning as a fierce storm accompanied by torrential rain, strong winds, and overcast skies hit the city. The heavy downpour caused waterlogging and severe traffic congestion in multiple areas, including Beltola, Hatigaon, Rukminigaon, Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Chandmari, and RG Baruah Road, where knee-deep water submerged streets and disrupted vehicular movement. Widespread power outages added to the city’s woes, with strong winds toppling electric poles and trees, plunging several major roads and neighbourhoods into darkness.
The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) dispatched restoration teams to address the power outages and urged residents to stay indoors and avoid contact with fallen wires. Authorities deployed large pumps to remove water from inundated zones, but the situation remained critical through the morning hours.
The storm highlighted persistent failures in Guwahati’s drainage infrastructure, with drains overflowing with sewage and silt, turning streets into filthy rivers. This exposed the inadequacy of recent de-siltation efforts and raised concerns about the city’s preparedness to handle natural calamities. Despite ambitious projects like “Mission Flood-Free 2025,” Guwahati’s infrastructure and urban planning seem ill-equipped to mitigate the impact of such storms.
Residents are grappling with basic failures of urban governance, and the question remains whether the city’s leadership will deliver on its promises to transform Guwahati into a smart city.
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