Guwahati Faces Urgent Call for Civic Improvements After Near-Fatal Incident
A Close Call in Guwahati
On May 31, a young girl had a narrow escape from a serious accident when she fell into an open manhole on a waterlogged street in Guwahati during a heavy downpour. Quick-thinking pedestrians nearby rushed to her aid, pulling her to safety.
This incident has raised alarms across the city, highlighting ongoing issues of civic negligence amid the annual monsoon chaos in Guwahati. It underscores the city's inadequate urban planning, poorly monitored construction sites, and unsecured drains and manholes that transform streets into dangerous zones during rainfall.
Local resident Ankita Das expressed her frustration, stating, "Such incidents are common every year in Guwahati. Heavy rains always lead to accidents like this." She recalled a tragic event from the previous year when a boy fell into a drain near Bamunimaidam, with his body discovered days later. "Fortunately, bystanders acted swiftly this time; otherwise, the outcome could have been dire," she noted.
Describing the current conditions as alarming, she mentioned that with roads submerged, it becomes impossible to differentiate between the street, footpaths, or ongoing construction. "It's terrifying to step outside during heavy rains," she added.
Since May 29, relentless rainfall has inundated Guwahati, leaving many areas under knee-deep water. Schools and offices have struggled to function as children, workers, and commuters navigate flooded streets with minimal civic assistance.
On May 16, the Urban Affairs Minister had warned contractors involved in the state’s Flood-Free Mission to complete essential mitigation work within three days or face severe legal consequences, including potential imprisonment.
However, the recent downpour has once again caused significant disruption, indicating that promised improvements have not materialized.
The Minister stated, "Multiple agencies are working to provide relief and rescue to those affected, as extensive waterlogging was reported across the city on Friday," during his inspection of the flooded areas in Juripar on Saturday.
Despite numerous commitments over the years to revamp Guwahati’s drainage system, residents argue that little progress has been made.
With children falling into drains, flooded roads disrupting daily life, and incomplete construction posing ongoing risks, citizens are demanding immediate accountability and urgent structural changes from the state government.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Assam, forecasting continued rainfall until May 31.
As water levels rise and drainage systems become overwhelmed, the threat of similar or worse incidents remains high.