GUWAHATI: In a powerful demonstration of community outrage, the residents of Rukminigaon area in Guwahati took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the persistent urban flooding that has plagued several areas of the city.
The catalyst for this protest is believed to be the tragic death of an 8-year-old boy who drowned in a city drain after being swept away by floodwaters.
Over 300 residents of the area gathered to voice their frustration and demand immediate action from local authorities.
The demonstration, which began on Wednesday morning, highlighted the residents’ concerns about the lack of effective drainage systems and the insufficient response from civic officials.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Walk the talk” and “Enough is enough” while chanting slogans against the concerned authorities.
They called on the government to prioritise their plight and take swift measures to address the flooding issues that have severely disrupted their daily lives.
The residents demanded immediate action from the municipal authorities to implement long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences of urban flooding.
On July 7, following moderate rainfall, several parts of the area were inundated with residents experiencing a harrowing time.
According to a national daily, residents, including children, in Rukminigaon were seen chasing vehicles distributing biscuit packets and water bottles to meet their food needs.
Guwahati, known as the “Gateway to the Northeast”, has been reeling under severe urban flooding for the past few years.
The denizens have been battling urban deluge every time it rains, irrespective of the magnitude of the shower.
On July 4, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Shiv Mandir sluice gate, BBC Colony from the Pandu Port Road, and the Pandunath Devalaya sluice gate in the Pandu area of the city to take stock of the situation.
He also reviewed the problems faced by the people and the steps taken to address them.
Addressing the worsening urban flooding, the Chief Minister acknowledged that it is different from natural floods and requires different methods to resolve.
He assured the public that master plans have been prepared by the concerned authorities and will be implemented soon to tackle the issue.
The residents of Guwahati remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and that effective measures will be taken to prevent further tragedies caused by urban flooding.
