Guwahati: The intense rainfall from Sunday night, continuing till Monday, paused the busy schedule of people in Guwahati and exposed vulnerabilities in the city’s urban infrastructure.Flood-prone areas of the city such as Hatigaon, Beltola, Rukminigaon, Rajgarh, Anil Nagar, Jorabat, Maligaon and Bhangagarh areas faced severe inundation, making commuting a challenge. In Rukminigaon and Hatigaon — areas that frequently flood after every spell — residents, especially office-goers, were seen seated on rubber boats deployed by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).Meanwhile, those who resorted to rickshaws were taken aback by the steep fares, ranging from Rs 300 to 500 for distances that usually cost around Rs 50.The condition worsened as several people reported that water had entered their homes. Jyoti Kumar Bhattacharya, a resident of Rukminigaon, said, “We could not go to office. Water entered our house, and it took us hours to flush it out. The water was so much that we had to move to one floor above. Our furnitures and cabins have been damaged.”Many people who had stepped out on Sunday found it difficult to return home, as rising water levels made it nearly impossible to wade through the flooded streets. Monideep Gogoi, a resident of Six Mile area of the city, said, “I had gone out with my relatives to spend the last day of the weekend, but could not return back and had to spend the night in a hotel.”Residents alleged that the accumulated water showed little sign of receding, making it difficult for them to step out even for essential needs. However, officials of the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration arranged relief measures, with bulldozers seen transporting packaged drinking water on its blades.“This is not just about rain anymore, it’s about how unprepared the system is every single time it rains,” said Muktar Rehman, a resident of Jalukbari pointing to recurring issues of clogged drains and poor water management.Kamrup (Metropolitan) deputy commissioner Swapneel Paul visited the affected areas and took stock of the situation. Speaking to the media on Monday, Paul said, “Several areas were affected within two to three hours of rainfall. Boats have been deployed in the affected locations. We have been attending SOS calls since Sunday and continue to do so to provide necessary relief.”
