GUWAHATI, July 21 ? With the surging waters of the Brahmaputra recording the highest ever mark in the city at 51.46 metres (6 pm) today, the citizens experienced floods in a number of localities. The previous highest mark in the city that was 51.37 metres way back in 1988, was eclipsed by 9 cms today. The busy MG Road at Fancy Bazar was inundated by the floodwater of the Brahmaputra for the first time since 1988. Many other adjoining areas including the AT Road, Bharalumukh, Santipur, Machkhowa, etc., were lying submerged in water. The backwaters of the Brahmaputra have even touched the rail bridge and the old RCC bridge over the Bharalu this morning. The Bharalu overtopped its banks at Bharalumukh point, near the RCC bridge, and submerged a portion of the AT Road and also the bylane in front of the Manasa temple by the Bharalu police station. The Sonaram school playground, the Family Court and the Flood Control Department?s office were also submerged by the Brahmaputra.
In view of the precarious situation confronting the city, the Army has been kept as a stand-by. The backwaters of the Brahmaputra have further leaked into the sluice gate over the Bharalu at Santipur. The Brahmaputra also inundated the all-important MG Road at Fancy Bazar point. In the event of another spell of heavy shower lashing the city, normal life in many parts of this capital city will be jeopardised, as the pumps at the Bharalu sluice gate have been rendered redundant by the backwaters of the Brahmaputra. What should be a disquieting development for the citizens is that the Brahmaputra has maintained a rising trend throughout the day today, and as per CWC observations, it should be touching 51.60 metres by tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, a vast area at Kharghuli has been flooded with waters of the Brahmaputra entering many houses. Almost a kilometre of the road from Jaipur remains under water. Similar was the condition at Uzanbazar where bylanes like the MC Road have been experiencing waterlogging for several days after the waters of the Brahmaputra had seeped through drains and canals. Chandrapur, Pandu, Amingaon, etc., areas were also under water. The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has, meanwhile, prohibited movement and parking of all vehicular traffic and pedestrians on the northern side of the MG Road from Bharalumukh to Sukreswar.