Guwahati: MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi Faces Ire of Flood-Hit Residents in City

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Tensions flared in Rukminigoan, one of Guwahati’s worst flood-affected areas, as BJP Member of Parliament Bijuli Kalita Medhi faced a hostile crowd during her visit to assess the situation on Friday. Residents, reeling under days of severe waterlogging, lashed out at the MP, voicing years of frustration and neglect.

The visit, which was meant to showcase administrative concern, quickly spiralled into a scene of public protest. Locals, some stranded in waist-deep water, greeted Medhi with sharp rebukes and chants of “Go Back”. Many accused her of staging a token appearance in relatively drier areas while avoiding the worst-hit zones.

“Come down, madam! Come down. There is no flood here, right?” shouted a resident sarcastically from across a flooded lane, pointing to the MP’s reluctance to step into the inundated parts of the locality.

Rubber boats deployed by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have become a daily necessity in Rukminigaon, with roads turned into rivers. The neighbourhood has become synonymous with waterlogging, with floodwaters regularly breaching homes and trapping families indoors.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the MP. Where is our MLA Atul Bora? We don’t know. Relief should come to our doorstep. How do we live with just two litres of water? We don’t have electricity, we don’t have clean water, and we can’t bathe. Is this the smart city we were promised?” questioned one resident, her voice rising with emotion and exhaustion. Another resident lamented, “Every year it’s the same. We appeal, we protest, but nothing changes. What will happen to us if this water isn’t cleared today? What about tomorrow? Are we to live like this forever?” While the government has touted projects under the “Smart City” mission and issued helpline numbers for affected areas in Kamrup Metro, residents see little on the ground to reflect these efforts. Many argue that temporary relief measures are no substitute for long-term solutions — including effective drainage, infrastructure maintenance, and proactive disaster response.

The MP’s visit — marked by visible detachment and brief roadside interactions — only deepened the public’s sense of alienation. Locals criticized the visit as a performative gesture, lacking engagement with those most impacted. The confrontation in Rukminigoan is a powerful indictment of administrative apathy. As monsoon rains continue, so does public outrage — transforming a natural crisis into a political flashpoint. For the people of Rukminigoan, the floods are not merely a seasonal inconvenience but the result of years of broken promises, ignored warnings, and systemic neglect.

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