Rain fury in Guwahati: 1 killed, roads submerged, traffic hit
Guwahati (PTI): At least one person died, and normal life was severely disrupted in Guwahati on Monday after torrential overnight rains triggered widespread flooding, leaving roads submerged, homes inundated, and traffic paralysed across the city.
The IMD said Khanapara recorded 215.9 mm of rainfall, and forecast a generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours.
The Assam capital witnessed heavy rainfall through Sunday night and early Monday, leading to knee-deep water on most roads, with water levels reaching chest height in some areas.
Flooding was reported from Zoo Road, RG Baruah Road, GS Road, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, Barmotoria, Boragaon, Sarumotoria, Narengi, Sawkuchi, Satgaon, Sijubari, Juripar, Gita Nagar, Maligaon, Hedayetpur, Guwahati Club, Ulubari, Lachit Nagar, Chandmari, Panjabari, Jorabat, Tarun Nagar, Jatia, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, Rajgarh Road, Rukminigaon, Survey and Chatribari, among others.
Scores of vehicles were stranded after their engines failed as water entered the engines.
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In its situation report, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said a woman died after falling into a drain at Maligaon Chariali near the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters.
The deceased was identified as Payal Nath, whose body was recovered by police with the help of Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), it added.
The Kamrup Metropolitan District administration, covering mostly the state capital, ordered the closure of all government and private schools on Monday due to "the flash flood caused by heavy rains".
ASDMA said that F&ES and SDRF personnel have deployed several teams across the city with motorised boats to rescue marooned people.
"So far, around 50 people have been evacuated from the affected areas. DDMA Kamrup Metropolitan has informed that the water level is receding and 22 major pumps and 35 portable pumps are in operation in various locations to drain out the water," it added.
As it was a working day, massive traffic jams were reported on almost all roads, with vehicles stranded due to flooded roads. Ambulances were stuck for hours, with patients facing severe hardship. Power cuts were also reported in many areas.
The Kamrup Metropolitan District Commissioner, who is also the District Election Officer, said there was waterlogging at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre, where polled EVMs are stored.
In a statement, the official said the machines were "completely safe and unaffected" despite the waterlogging.
"Although there was temporary waterlogging in and around certain parts of the campus due to heavy rainfall, no water has entered the main building housing the strong room," it added.
The accumulated water has already receded, and adequate arrangements, including pumping facilities, have been put in place to handle any exigency, the DEO asserted.
The IMD has predicted continued inclement weather over Guwahati for the next seven days, with thundershowers expected.
It said there will be generally cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers, while the maximum and minimum temperatures are most likely to be 30 degree Celsius and 21 degree Celsius, respectively.
Quoting IMD predictions, the ASDMA in a statement said the weather pattern suggests that more intense rainfall is likely to occur in all parts of Assam, including the capital city.
"In Guwahati city, continued downpours could aggravate waterlogging, slow vehicular movement, and increase the risk of tree falls and localised landslides in vulnerable pockets. City authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and emergency response systems are being kept on alert," it added.
In view of the situation, the ASDMA requested all the people of Guwahati to take all necessary precautions and remain vigilant.
"Daily commuters and long-distance travellers are requested to plan their routines accordingly, avoiding unnecessary movement during periods of intense rainfall. Residents in low-lying and hillside areas should stay alert for any signs of flooding or landslides," it added.
People have also been urged to stay tuned to official weather updates and follow advisories issued by local authorities to ensure safety during this prolonged spell of rain.
The Gauhati High Court in August 2024 said time had come to deal with the problem of perennial flooding in the state capital and the government was required to take steps to resolve this problem permanently, asking to submit a plan to mitigate the crisis.
Stating that the Assam government was "not serious" in solving perennial waterlogging problems in the state capital, the Gauhati High Court had come down heavily for not responding to its repeated notice and slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 each on four departments concerned.
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Will continue to keep tab on development work in Bihar: Nitish to JD(U) MLAs
Patna (PTI): JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Monday told party legislators that he will continue to keep a tab on the development work in Bihar despite having given up the chief minister's post a week ago.
Kumar addressed a meeting of the legislative party at 1, Anney Marg, which is the official residence of the chief minister and which the JD(U) supremo, now a Rajya Sabha MP, had occupied for nearly two decades.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "Our party leader has said that except for sessions of Parliament, which would require his presence in Delhi, he will spend his maximum time in Bihar."
"Nitish Kumar told us that he will ensure that the good work done while he was in power continues under the new government, in which the JD(U) is an important partner. To keep a tab, he will tour the state in due course," Neeraj Kumar said.
The JD(U) spokesperson was asked about speculations that the meeting had been convened to decide on the role to be assigned to Nishant, the party supremo's son, who joined the JD(U) last month, but has declined to accept a ministerial berth in the Samrat Choudhary government.
"There is no confusion about the role of Nishant, who has been accepted by the party as the leader of the future. In any case, there was no discussion on him today," Neeraj Kumar said.
Nitish Kumar has been authorised by the legislators to decide on choosing the legislative party leader, he added.
Among those present at the meeting were Union minister and former JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
Interestingly, don turned politician Anant Kumar Singh, who represents Mokama assembly seat, claimed after the meeting that MLAs were asked by the supreme leader to try and win "200 seats in the next elections".
"Nitish Kumar ji told us that he will now be more easily available for party workers and general public. He also said that he will extensively tour the state and asked us to work hard so that the party wins 200 seats in the next elections", said Singh, who is often in news for putting his foot in the mouth.
The Bihar assembly is 243-strong and the JD(U)'s current tally is 85, four less than ally BJP, which is the single largest party.
The JD(U)'s best-ever performance was in 2010, when it had contested 142 seats and won 115 of these. It was also the highest tally for any single party since Bihar's truncation in 2000, until when Jharkhand was part of the state and assembly had 324 seats.
