in Assam, leaving many roads and homes underwater and making life difficult for residents on Tuesday.People were seen walking through knee-deep water in several areas, while in some localities the water reached chest height. Major parts of the city, including Zoo Road, Nabin Nagar, Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, Gita Nagar, Maligaon, Hedayetpur, Guwahati Club, Ulubari, Lachit Nagar, Chandmari and Panjabari, were flooded.

Other places like GS Road Jorabat, Tarun Nagar, Jatia, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, Rukmini Gaon, Survey and Chatribari also saw waterlogging.

Many schools cancelled classes in the morning, especially those conducting exams, as school buses couldn’t move through the flooded roads. Several vehicles, including ambulances, got stuck, and many people struggled to reach their destinations.

As the day went on, almost every part of the city reported traffic jams due to water-filled streets. Many homes in the so-called 'smart city' were also flooded, and several areas experienced power cuts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that more heavy rain is likely over the next two to three days across Assam. On May 20, Guwahati had already received 112.5 mm of rain, according to official records.IMD said the western and southern parts of Assam might see even heavier rainfall, possibly up to 200 mm in some areas. In Guwahati, this could worsen waterlogging, slow down traffic, and raise the risk of tree falls and landslides in hilly areas.Authorities are keeping emergency teams on standby and watching the situation closely.

Officials have urged residents to stay alert, especially those living in low-lying or hillside areas. They’ve also asked commuters to avoid unnecessary travel and to follow weather updates and instructions from local authorities.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah visited some flooded parts of the city on a two-wheeler. He said the rainwater from the nearby Meghalaya hills had made the situation worse.

“We have some sluice gates, but they’re not enough to handle this much water,” he told reporters. He added that pumping water out of flooded homes wasn’t working very well yet.

Baruah also repeated an earlier allegation made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, blaming the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) for “flood jihad.” He claimed that the university was cutting hills inside its campus to build new buildings, which has added to the flooding.

In August last year, the Gauhati High Court criticised the state government for not taking the waterlogging problem in Guwahati seriously. The court said a proper plan was needed to solve the issue and even fined four government departments Rs 1,000 each for not replying to court notices.

The flooding has once again brought attention to the city’s poor drainage system and the urgent need for long-term solutions.

Inputs from PTI