Silchar: Pre-monsoon showers have thrown life out of gear in Assam’s Barak Valley town, causing waterlogging in several low-lying areas of Silchar and exposing persistent gaps in drainage and civic preparedness.Localities in the New Silchar area, especially lanes near Link Road, remained submerged on Saturday, forcing residents to wade through stagnant water. Commuting has become difficult and concerns over hygiene and risk of waterborne diseases are growing.Residents said the problem is chronic and reflects a lack of sustained intervention. “Every year we face the same situation. Promises of development are made, but there is little visible work on the ground,” said a local resident.The situation has worsened with a reported pipeline burst under the public health engineering (PHE) department, which has led to additional water accumulation on roads.Choked drains, clogged with garbage and silt, have further worsened the crisis, with water entering several houses and damaging property.Civic lapses, particularly irregular desilting of drains and poor waste management, have been cited as key factors behind the worsening scenario. Residents have demanded immediate cleaning of drains, damaged pipeline repairs and a long-term overhaul of the town’s drainage infrastructure.Adding to the concern, the rising water levels in the Barak river due to continuous rainfall in upstream areas have increased the risk for low-lying pockets across the town.Amid mounting public anger, former MP and BJP leader Rajdeep Roy visited inundated areas, including the Berenga embankment, to take stock of the situation. He reportedly directed officials to expedite drain cleaning and sanitation measures on a war footing.However, officials are yet to announce any comprehensive mitigation plan, even as the town braces for heavier rain in the coming weeks. The early waterlogging has once again brought into focus the fragile urban infrastructure of Silchar, which struggles annually with seasonal flooding.
