Guwahati, the bustling gateway to Northeast India, faced a severe monsoon onslaught as 37mm of rainfall within 24 hours submerged nearly half the city, disrupted air travel, and led to tragic fatalities in the region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, anticipating continued heavy rains through Saturday, exacerbating the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. The relentless downpour overwhelmed Guwahati’s drainage systems, leading to waist-deep water in several localities, including Rukminigaon, Hatigaon, GS Road, Bhangagarh, Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, and Chandmari. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed rubber boats to evacuate residents from the worst-hit areas. The monsoon’s impact extended beyond Guwahati. In Mizoram’s Aizawl, a 37-year-old man lost his life when a stone retaining wall collapsed in the Thuampui area amid heavy rains and strong winds. His companion sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Flight operations at Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport were severely affected, with at least nine flights diverted to Agartala and Kolkata due to adverse weather conditions. Several other flights experienced significant delays, disrupting travel plans for numerous passengers. In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Assam government declared special casual leave for government employees in Kamrup and Kamrup Metro districts, excluding those residing in office quarters. Government educational institutions in these districts were closed, and private organizations were advised to operate with minimal staff. The IMD’s forecast indicates that the heavy rainfall is likely to persist until Saturday, with a possibility of improvement from Sunday. Due to the grim situation, power supply was cut in many parts across the state, affecting around nine lakh people. Approximately 100 electricity transformers were shut down in the city to prevent any possible untoward incidents.
The monsoon’s wrath also triggered landslides in Guwahati, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, including children, in the Kamrup (Metro) district. The relentless downpour prompted authorities to shut down schools and colleges in the affected areas as a precautionary measure. The IMD has forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rains across northeastern states for the next seven days, with extremely heavy rainfall particularly in Assam and Meghalaya until Sunday. A depression over Bangladesh is expected to move north-northeastwards and weaken. Due to ongoing weather conditions, a red alert has been issued for five western Assam districts. The current situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable urban planning and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. As climate change continues to influence monsoon patterns, cities like Guwahati must prioritize eco-friendly and equitable development to safeguard their residents.
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