Guwahati Submerged: A City Underwater
Seriously, you wouldn't believe the scenes in Guwahati today. A crazy amount of rain last night left huge parts of the city completely flooded. I mean, knee-deep water in some places, chest-high in others! It's a disaster.
Roads Turned Rivers, Schools Closed
It's absolute chaos. Major areas like Zoo Road, Ganeshguri, and Panjabari are practically swimming. I saw videos of cars and even ambulances completely stuck in the waterlogged streets. Traffic is jammed everywhere, and many schools had to close because buses simply couldn't get through. Imagine trying to get to work or school, wading through water up to your waist! It's unbelievable.
- Major roads affected: Zoo Road, Ganeshguri, Panjabari, Guwahati Club, GS Road, VIP Road, and many more.
- Schools: Many shut down due to inaccessible roads and flooded campuses.
- Transportation: Total gridlock, with vehicles, including ambulances, stranded.
More Rain on the Way? Uh Oh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is predicting even more heavy rain for the next few days – up to 200mm in some areas! That's terrifying. This could mean even worse waterlogging, more traffic nightmares, and a serious risk of landslides in the hilly areas surrounding Guwahati. Seriously, this situation could get a whole lot worse.
The Minister's Visit and Blame Game
Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah toured the flooded areas today, but honestly, his visit felt more like a PR exercise than a genuine effort. He highlighted the challenges of draining the waterlogged homes – something many people would find obvious. He even blamed the flooding partly on alleged environmental damage from the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in a controversial statement. This has sparked yet another round of the ‘flood jihad’ accusations, which is certainly not helping anyone solve the actual problems.
A Long-Standing Problem
This isn't the first time Guwahati's flooded. Last year, the Gauhati High Court even criticized the authorities for their failure to address the city's inadequate drainage system. This whole situation is just frustrating. You'd think they would've learned their lesson. They’ve even fined government departments for not responding to previous court notices. This whole flooding highlights a deep-seated lack of planning and attention to detail.
What's Next?
Emergency teams are on standby, but the IMD’s warning of more rain is incredibly concerning. Residents are being urged to stay cautious, especially those in low-lying areas. The long-term solution is clearly to upgrade Guwahati’s drainage system – something the city desperately needs. Let's hope this time, the authorities will actually take some serious steps to prevent this from happening again.
Stay safe, Guwahati!
