Heavy rains inundate several places in Bongaigaon

From our Correspondent

Bongaigaon, June 6: Due to heavy rain since Friday night, several places in Bongaigaon have been flooded. Such was the situation that rescue operation was needed to rescue people who had become captive in their houses due to floods. Areas like Palpara, Babupara, New Bongaigaon Railway colony, BG colony, Dangtol, Bongaigaon Refinery colony were all under water.

Bittu Ghosh, a resident of Palpara, said that the water-level had become almost three feet high on the road. “Water entered our houses in night and the water level started to increase. We were compelled to put all our valuable materials on the table or on a higher ground. The level increased up to two feet inside our house in the morning. I, my wife, two sons and my aged mother could not move out of the house due to the water. But luckily a rescue team arrived by boat and rescued us. Many valuables have been destroyed,” he said.

This was the same scerio in New Bongaigaon Railway colony and Babupara. The road from Bongaigaon town to Basugaon remained blocked for several hours due to this flood. The Fire and Emergency Service staff carried out a rescue operation throughout the flood-affected areas and saved several lives.

While heavy rain was the main reason for the flash flood, people have also blamed the poor draige system in the town for the situation. Bimal Ray, a local resident, said that there was no proper draige system in Palpara and Babupara area. “Though this area comes under Bongaigaon Municipality there is no proper drain from where the water can pass out. Hence after a heavy rainfall, there was flooding in the area,” he said.

In New Bongaigaon area, few people claimed that the unplanned under construction road between New Bongaigaon to Dangtol was one of the reasons for the flood in this area. “This is a high road under construction which divides Railway Colony area and Railway Yard. The water from Railway Colony normally passes out towards the southern direction, towards Railway yard. But this year this road has been constructed and there in no suitable tunnel to pass out the water. Hence this flood occurred here for the first time,” said a local resident.