Dibrugarh, July 18: If the floods were not enough to throw Dibrugarh into complete turmoil, a blockage in the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain has caused unprecedented waterlogging, leading to chaos and panic among residents.
The incident, which occurred near the Naina Cinema Hall around 1:15 p.m., left several localities, including the Gangapara area and AT Road, which submerged within half an hour, despite the absence of rain. The sudden flooding prompted local residents to stage protests against the authorities. Mayor Saikat Patra and other district officials promptly arrived to assess the situation.
In response, municipal workers were directed to dig up the busy highway and clear the blockage in the DTP drain. Using excavators, they removed the obstruction, but the road closure for restoration work will impact traffic movement on NH-37 at Naliapool (near Naina Cinema) until repairs are completed. Traffic has been diverted through alternate routes.
“The sudden waterlogging at Naliapool was due to a blockage in the DTP Drain. We took immediate action to address the issue and restore normalcy as soon as possible. However, the road will remain closed until restoration work is completed,” an official stated.
In addition, a five-member Central team from various departments of the Central Government arrived in Dibrugarh to visit the flood-affected areas. Their first stop was the Tengakhat Hathi Bondha Ghumtal embankment site, which was breached in the recent flood. Restoration work on the embankment is currently underway.
The Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain, a crucial stormwater drainage system spanning 9.5 km, has been failing to flush out rainwater from the town due to illegal encroachment and the dumping of garbage and plastic. The drain originates from Seujpur (zero point) and passes through densely populated areas in the heart of Dibrugarh town before reaching the Sessa River, covering a total distance of 9.5 km. A significant portion of the drain, about 5.56 km, falls within Dibrugarh town, while the remaining 3.85 km is located on the outskirts.
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