GUWAHATI, May 15 � Even as many localities in the city witnessed artificial flooding this morning following heavy rainfall, the civic authorities claimed that they have succeeded in tackling the situation promptly.
Speaking to reporters here today, Kamrup Metro DC Dr M Angamuthu said that 108.7 mm rainfall was reported at Chandmari since last evening, 81.5 mm at Pandu, 74 mm at Gandhi Mandap, 73 mm at Rehabari and 105 mm at Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
�Anything above 50 mm is considered as heavy rainfall. During the deluge of June 26-27 last year there was 68 mm rainfall and half of Guwahati went under water. Today, despite 108 mm rainfall, water evacuation of Bharalu was the fastest ever in history. Even Mora Bharalu was discharging water at a fast rate and all the water was channelled to Pamohi side,� he said.
He said that the main reason for water-logging in Anil Nagar, parts of Lachit Nagar, Zoo Road and Rajgarh Road was due to clogging.
�Earlier it used to take 12-24 hours for the flood water to flow out. Today, it took less than six hours. Zoo Road was cleared by 9 am and Lachit Nagar by noon time. Due to concerted effort made by all agencies, evacuation was fast,� Dr Angamuthu said.
He said that the administration is ready to deal with any eventuality during the coming monsoon season.
�A major problem we faced today was due to garbage dumping which created difficulty in operating the pumps as drains were clogged. I request all citizens to throw garbage only at designated spots or municipal bins,� said the DC.
S Viswanathan, Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), said that all engineers were in the field since 3 this morning.
GMC has purchased 22 pumps during the last three months, while another 20 each have been purchased by GMDA and Water Resources Department, he added.
