A brief but intense pre-monsoon rain on Sunday morning, lasting barely three hours, left Tinsukia town flooded with knee-deep water inundating streets, localities, and commercial areas. The downpour, which occurred on May 28, 2025, caused widespread disruption across the town.
Affected Areas
Several localities were among the worst affected, including Rangagora Road, Chaliha Nagar, AT Road, Parbotia Road, Jyotinagar, Bordoloi Nagar, Court Tiniali, Borguri, Raja Ali Road, Thandagarh, Milanpally, Amrit Tamuly Road, VIP Road, and West Sripuria. Shops remained shut throughout the morning as waterlogged streets made movement difficult.
Residents Express Frustration
Residents voiced their anger and concern over the recurring issue. Sudip Paul, a shopkeeper on AT Road, remarked, "This is only pre-monsoon rain and the entire town is under water. What will happen when the monsoon actually arrives?"
Priya Hazarika, a resident of Bordoloi Nagar, added, "Every year the same promises are made before the monsoon. However, the drains are not fixed, and nothing changes."
Longstanding Drainage Issues
According to residents, the waterlogging problem in Tinsukia has been a longstanding one. Poor drainage infrastructure and lack of proper water management have contributed to the recurring issue. Choked drains, encroachments along natural water channels, and unplanned construction have compounded the problem over the years.
Areas such as Jyotinagar, Chaliha Nagar, Bordoloi Nagar, Court Tiniali, Borguri, Raja Ali Road, Thandagarh, Milanpally, Makum Road, Parbotia Road, Amrit Tamuly Road, VIP Road, and West Sripuria have long been identified as requiring immediate intervention and long-term solutions.
Authorities Blamed for Inaction
Locals expressed frustration over persistent flooding, alleging that authorities have failed to address the chronic issue. Residents rued that while they had urged the municipal board and the district administration to undertake concrete drainage improvements before the monsoon sets in fully, nothing concrete has been done yet to combat waterlogging.
The situation highlights the urgent need for effective drainage solutions and proactive measures by local authorities to prevent such flooding in the future.
