Guwahati: Flood fears grip Batahguli; residents demand solutions

 Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Even in the absence of rain, unease hangs in the air in Panjabari’s Batahguli locality, where residents are gripped by the constant fear of flooding. A single downpour, they say, is enough to turn their homes and streets into waterlogged zones, thanks to poor drainage infrastructure and unchecked solid waste accumulation.

“This low-lying area in Guwahati has, over the years, evolved into one of the city’s most flood-vulnerable pockets,” locals attributed while talking to The Sentinel. “Whenever it rains, the drains get filled with mud and plastic. They’re hardly ever cleaned properly. The authorities only come after the area gets flooded,” said a frustrated resident, pointing to the growing sense of neglect in the neighbourhood.

While the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) claims to deploy emergency response teams during flood-like situations—clearing drains and offering temporary relief to affected families—residents argue that such interventions are always too little, too late. “By the time the municipal workers arrive, our homes are already underwater. What we need is not a reactive system, but a permanent and preventive one,” said another resident.

Environmental experts say the problem goes far beyond clogged drains. Rapid urbanization, unchecked encroachment of wetlands, and the loss of natural water retention areas have weakened Guwahati’s flood resilience over the years. What was once a network of wetlands and natural drainage channels is now a patchwork of buildings, narrow by-lanes, and congested drains—grossly inadequate to carry even moderate rainwater.

Batahguli’s residents say they live in constant dread during the monsoon season. While the area has not yet been hit by flash floods this year, they fear it’s only a matter of time. Their anxiety is heightened by the absence of structured community leadership to collectively raise these concerns with the authorities, leaving the locality with little bargaining power.

This vulnerability is not unique to Batahguli. Across Guwahati, flash floods have become a recurring nightmare, often bringing parts of the city to a standstill. Waist-deep water, traffic snarls, and damaged homes have become the unfortunate hallmark of the city’s monsoons.

With more rainfall expected in the days ahead, residents of Panjabari Batahguli are urging the GMC and allied agencies to shift focus from short-term disaster responses to a long-term flood mitigation strategy. Until then, the looming fear of the next flood continues to dominate daily life in this fragile, waterlogged corner of the city.

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