Following severe rains that resulted in considerable flooding around the city, all educational institutions in Guwahati have been ordered to remain closed today, August 6. The decision was made in response to traffic congestion and overflowing drains caused by the August 5 rainstorm.
According to an official order issued by Kamrup Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan, “In view of the situation arising out of the flash floods caused by heavy rains in Guwahati city that occurred on August 5, all educational institutions (both government and private), including colleges and coaching centres, are hereby declared closed on August 6 within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation area.”
The severe rain in the afternoon of August 5 lasted almost two hours and saturated several places, notably those beneath flyovers, causing major travel disruptions. Many commuters, including office workers, schoolchildren, and even ambulances, were delayed for hours as they attempted to reach their destinations amid waterlogged streets.
According to PTI reports, water had accumulated on nearly all the city’s peripheral roads, causing serious delays. In several cases, motorists had to abandon their vehicles and wade through knee-deep water to get home. Some people had to spend the night in their offices as they couldn’t return home due to flooded roads.
Although the situation improved after midnight, numerous places remained underwater this morning. Floodwaters continued to disrupt important highways, including the road to Shillong, leaving numerous vehicles stranded.
Despite government attempts to minimize floods by cleaning blocked drains prior to the monsoon season, Guwahati, an important commercial hub and gateway to Northeast India, is prone to substantial flooding after heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, earlier last month, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) issued an official bulletin stating that the flood situation had reached a catastrophic level, affecting nearly 6.44 lakh people across 19 districts. Eight rivers were running over the danger mark, including the Brahmaputra, which had reached its peak flood level near Nematighat in the Jorhat district.
