Guwahati, May 31: At least five people, including two children, have died in separate landslide incidents across Guwahati in the past 48 hours, as unrelenting rain continues to batter the city, flooding roads, cutting power, and triggering fresh fears of urban collapse.
The most tragic incident occurred in Bonda on May 30 around 3:30 p.m., where a guard wall gave way and crushed a woman and her two children inside their home. “They were trapped when the wall collapsed. All three were rushed to GMCH but were declared dead on arrival,” said an official from the Kamrup Metro District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Two more deaths followed in Fatasil Ambari and Maligaon, where landslides swept through fragile hillside settlements. Locals say the risk of slope failures remains high in several neighbourhoods where homes are built too close to unstable terrain.
The rain, which began on May 29, has left large parts of Guwahati submerged. Flooded homes, blocked roads, and widespread power outages have added to the city’s distress. Rescue teams are working in difficult conditions, often wading through mud and debris.
As of Saturday morning, the Brahmaputra stood at 45.9 metres—creeping closer to the warning level of 48.6 metres. The official danger mark is 49.68 metres.
Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Jayanta Mallabaruah, toured several flood-hit areas on Friday, including Juripar, Basistha Chariali, Excel Care Hospital junction, Pandu Temple Ghat, Kamakhya Foothills, G.S. Road, and Ambari. He acknowledged the extent of the damage and noted that many localities function like water basins, collecting runoff from nearby hills.
Baruah explained that two major drainage channels are under construction to divert floodwaters, though some areas like Rukminigaon can only be cleared once surrounding zones are drained. In Juripar, where waters from the Meghalaya hills converge, the original ‘Juri’ stream has narrowed due to encroachment. To fix this, GMDA has proposed a “drain-cum-road” project to restore the channel and direct water to the Brahmaputra via Silsakoo.
He said the state is adopting a comprehensive flood management strategy, including lessons from cities like Mumbai. Two major drainage corridors—from Koinadhara to Deepor Beel and from Juripar through Bondajan to the Brahmaputra—are in progress.
Baruah also praised the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) for swift drain clearance in areas like Chandmari and Silpukhuri, which helped water recede quickly. Relief materials, including baby food and mosquito repellents, are being distributed with help from the district administration.
Across the city, residents are grappling with long hours of blackout. Areas like Lokhra, Uzanbazaar, Hatigaon, Boragaon, Narengi, and Zoo Road reported complete or intermittent loss of electricity. A Boragaon school teacher said the outage had disrupted exams, with students and staff unable to charge phones or print question papers.
The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) said the outages were intentional and necessary. “We had to shut down power in several areas due to safety concerns. Electric poles are down and trees have fallen on lines. It’s too dangerous to restore power until the water recedes,” said an APDCL official.
The Forest Department reported that at least 40 trees had fallen across Guwahati, further blocking roads and adding to the chaos. Kamakhya Nursery Road was blocked by a landslide but was later cleared. In many areas, roads were impassable for hours due to waterlogging and debris.
Citizens have taken to social media to express their frustration, questioning the government’s unfulfilled promise of a “Flood-Free Guwahati.” Despite yearly assurances and budget allocations, the city continues to crumble under predictable monsoon pressure.
“It’s the same every year. Someone dies, houses get flooded, power goes out—and nothing changes,” said a Silpukhuri resident.
With rain forecast to continue in the coming days, many in Guwahati are bracing for more hardship. For most, it’s no longer about surprise — it’s about survival in a city that seems unprepared for the very challenges it faces every year.
