Guwahati: Residents’ woes continue on day 2 of city deluge

Is ‘Smart City’ a misnomer?

STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati: What was hoped to be a cooling monsoon has turned into a nightmare for people across Assam, with the relentless rains exposing the state's crumbling infrastructure and deep-rooted governance failures. In Guwahati, the situation has grown particularly dire, with floodwaters continuing to submerge vast parts of the city and paralyze daily life for the second day today.

Localities like Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar-routinely affected during monsoons-are underwater once again. But this year, even Hatigaon, a relatively less flood-prone area, has not been spared. On Friday, for the first time, people in Hatigaon resorted to using boats to commute. "The water has reached Hatigaon Chariali. If this is development, only the departments responsible can justify it. Boats in Hatigaon - that says it all," said a frustrated local.

"Every year, they say drains have been cleaned, that they're prepared. But when the rain arrives, we get the same disaster. This isn't nature's doing - it's mismanagement," added another resident. The human cost of this neglect is growing. Students have missed examinations, schools are closed indefinitely, and working professionals are stuck in unending traffic snarls. Public transport has almost disappeared, and the few vehicles available are charging two to three times the usual fare.

Pedestrians too are at risk, navigating submerged roads with broken or missing footpath slabs. Several have fallen into open drains hidden beneath murky waters - some incidents resulting in fatalities.

While the state government has issued helpline numbers for flood-affected residents in Kamrup Metro, many call it a cosmetic measure. "Hotlines don't pump water out of our homes. We need lasting solutions, not phone numbers," said a resident of Nabin Nagar. The repeated flooding has reignited criticism of the much-hyped "Smart City" initiative. "Where is the smartness in a city where boats replace buses, drains turn into death traps, and floodwater becomes a permanent resident?" questioned a city-based civic activist.

As rain continues to lash the region, so does the public's fury. With each passing year, the floods are no longer viewed as natural calamities but as predictable disasters born out of official apathy. Residents are demanding more than token relief - they want structural reform: efficient drainage, resilient roads, and accountable governance.

Until then, Guwahati's "Smart City" title rings hollow amid the floodwaters that rise year after year - as do the unfulfilled promises.

In a distressing display of Guwahati's crumbling infrastructure, a dead body had to be transported on a makeshift banana raft in the flash flood-hit locality of Rukminigoan on Friday. With streets submerged and emergency services unable to access the area, locals were forced to use the improvised raft to carry the deceased for final rites.

The heartbreaking scene has sparked outrage among residents, who say it exposes the harsh reality behind the city's "Smart City" claims. "When even the dead can't be given dignity, what kind of development are we talking about?" asked one local. Despite repeated assurances of flood preparedness, this incident underscores the failure of basic civic planning and emergency response in one of Guwahati's worst-affected neighbourhoods.

Also Read: Guwahati: City comes to standstill; floods are back with a vengeance

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