GUWAHATI, July 8 - After a harrowing experience of around 36 hours, residents of many localities of the city finally got some relief this afternoon after flood-water receded from streets, bye-lanes and residential areas at affected areas.
However, artificial flood, which affected a big part of the city following yesterday�s heavy showers, continues to plague some localities like Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Sarumataria and some other places till around 4 pm today.
Another spell of showers this afternoon also resulted in accumulation of water in places like VIP Road.
�We had a tough time since yesterday morning. We were stuck inside our houses for over 30 hours. Water only receded late this afternoon,� said Dwip Baruah, president of Nabin Nagar Welfare Society.
He added that flood-water entered many houses, including his own, at Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar.
�Crores of rupees have been spent on so-called measures to curb artificial flooding in the city but it seems as if nothing much has been achieved. People in our locality are still stuck inside their homes for the last two days,� Baruah said.
People suffered privations like lack of access to potable drinking water. Office-goers were especially pressed during the morning hours when many of the bye-lanes were still under water.
Baruah said authorities provided food materials like bread and cake and drinking water bottles in his locality.
�However, whatever relief was provided is not enough. Water entered many houses and for hours on end we had to take shelter in the roof. Many of our household items got soaked,� said another resident of Nabin Nagar.
Meanwhile, district administration officials said that water has started receding from residential areas and roads in places like Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar by afternoon today.
�The water level at the Brahmaputra is very high and so the sluice gates at Bharalu have been closed. So it is taking more time for the flood waters in some low-lying areas of the city to recede. But if there is no more heavy rainfall today or tomorrow, the situation will return to normal,� said an official.
He added that officials and staff from the district administration, GMC, GMDA and SDRF are working round-the-clock and over 35 pumps have been pressed into service to flush out rain-waters.
