GUWAHATI, April 20: Amidst heavy rain and severe waterlogging in the city, a woman died after she reportedly slipped and fell into an open drain in the Maligaon area here on Sunday night.
According to reports, the deceased, identified as Payel Nath, was located around 150 metres away from the inundated spot hours after she fell into the open drain.
Rescue teams from Guwahati City Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had launched a search operation in the area.
Notably, heavy evening and overnight rainfall left several areas, including Maligaon, Rukminigaon, Rukmini Nagar, Survey-Wireless, Anil Nagar, VIP Road, Jorabat, Rajgarh, Hatigaon and Zoo Road, severely waterlogged.
The Kamrup Metro district administration had, in view of the flash flood-like situation, ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions within the GMC area on Monday, in the interest of public safety.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued inclement weather over Assam for the next two to three days, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected across various parts of the state.
According to rainfall data recorded on Monday, several locations in and around Guwahati have already received substantial precipitation — including 117.4 mm in Guwahati Airport (A/P); 126.5 mm in Guwahati (City) ARG (automatic rain gauge); 119.5 mm at AAU-HRS (Assam Agricultural University-Horticultural Research Station) station, 134 mm at Gauhati University, and 215.9 mm at SIRD Complex, Khanapara.
The figures indicate widespread and intense rainfall activity that is likely to persist, the IMD stated.
The weather pattern suggests that all the parts across Assam are likely to witness more intense rainfall over the coming days.
In Guwahati city, continued downpours could aggravate waterlogging, slow vehicular movement, and increase the risk of tree falls and localised landslides in vulnerable pockets, it predicted.
City authorities, meanwhile, are closely monitoring the situation with emergency response systems being kept on alert.
In view of the situation, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has urged residents of Guwahati to take all necessary precautions and remain vigilant.
“Daily commuters and long-distance travellers are requested to plan their routines accordingly, avoiding unnecessary movement during periods of intense rainfall. Residents in low-lying and hillside areas should stay alert for any signs of flooding or landslides,” a statement issued by the ASDMA, said.
Residents have also been requested to stay tuned to official weather updates and follow advisories issued by local authorities to ensure safety during the prolonged spell of rain.
“The status of the situation will be updated by ASDMA from time to time for general awareness,” it said.
