Guwahati, April 20: Even as Bihu festivities lit up Assam, a prolonged spell of heavy overnight rain brought large parts of Guwahati to a halt, triggering widespread waterlogging, a fatal accident, and major disruptions to daily life.
Rain lashed the city for nearly four hours through Sunday night, submerging streets under knee-deep water in several localities. Vehicles were left stranded, while many commuters sought refuge on elevated roads and flyovers as key routes became impassable.
The situation turned tragic in Maligaon Chariali, where a woman, identified as Payal Nath of Dharapur, reportedly fell into an uncovered manhole amid rapidly rising floodwaters and was swept away. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a search operation, and her body was later recovered around 250 metres away. She was declared brought dead at the Pandu First Referral Unit.
Low-lying areas such as Hatigaon, Rukminigaon, Kahilipara, Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar were among the worst affected, once again exposing Guwahati’s persistent drainage challenges during intense rainfall. Flooded streets, dim lighting, and stalled traffic added to the chaos through the night and into Monday morning.
The downpour also cast a shadow over Bihu celebrations, with several programmes cancelled due to the weather, though festivities continued in some parts despite the rain.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across Assam over the next 2–3 days, raising concerns of further waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and possible localized landslides in vulnerable areas.
In view of the situation, the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration has ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation area on April 20 as a precautionary measure.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said it is closely monitoring the situation, with emergency response systems kept on alert.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall, and plan journeys carefully. Daily commuters and long-distance travellers have been advised to adjust their schedules in line with weather conditions.
The public has also been asked to stay updated through official weather bulletins and strictly follow advisories issued by local authorities to ensure safety during the ongoing spell of rain.
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