The flood situation in the town of Dibrugarh showed no signs of respite for the fifth consecutive day. Spawned by the heavy downpour that has been coming down like vengeance for the past several days, the flash floods have badly hit hundreds of people, leaving them in a state of misery and affliction. With more rainfall being predicted in the region, their apprehensions are only rising.
Many areas of the town, including Thanacharali, Graham Bazar, Tinkunia, New Market, Jail Road, Khalihamari and Phoolbagan, are under the baneful grip of flash floods. Several parts of NH-37 –that runs right through the town's heart – have been damaged by the floods. Already pushed against the wall by the pandemic, the plight of the people living in and around the flood-affected areas knows no bounds. Many important government and judicial offices and buildings, including Dibrugarh District and Sessions Court, SP office, Agriculture office and Dibrugarh Central Jail are plagued by the floods.
Although the District Administration, State Disaster Response Force and the Civil Defence Team are exercising measures to tackle the urban floods, they haven't been able to take the victims out of misery yet. Water pumps have been installed at certain places to drain the water flooding the streets out into the Brahmaputra River. However, with the incessant rains, things are moving back to square one within no time.
Not quite used to flash floods of this unforgiving nature, many residents of the town are blaming the Municipality for not taking timely measures. Lack of proper drainage system is the root cause of the flash floods, they say. Had the authorities concerned been more serious about cleaning the Dibrugarh Town Protection Drain as well as the other small drains well before the monsoons, this 'man-made' calamity could be averted.
As per sources, the flippant attitude of the Municipality can be gauged from the fact that it started unblocking the small drains in some areas of the town only during the peak monsoon time. Moreover, many of these drains are now reportedly uncovered, without any slabs on them.
