Dibrugarh: The NH-37 passing through Dibrugarh town faced a major crisis at the Naliapool area when a blockage in the Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain caused unprecedented waterlogging, leading to chaos and panic among residents.
The incident, which occurred near the Naina Cinema Hall around 1.15 pm, left several localities including the Gangapara area and AT Road submerged within half an hour, despite the absence of rainfall.
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The situation prompted local residents to stage protests against the authorities. Mayor Saikat Patra and other district officials arrived to take stock of the situation.
The municipal workers were directed to dig the busy highway and clear the blockage in the DTP drain. With the help of excavators, the road was excavated and the blockage was removed.
However, the road closure for restoration work will impact traffic movement on NH-37 at Naliapool (near Naina Cinema) until the repairs are completed. Traffic has been diverted through other routes.
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“The sudden waterlogging at Naliapool area was a result of a blockage in the DTP Drain. We took immediate action to address the issue and restore normalcy as soon as possible. However the road will remain closed until restoration work is completed,” an official said.
A five-member Central team from various departments of the Central Government is visiting the flood-affected area of Dibrugarh district from today.
After arriving in Dibrugarh this afternoon, the team first visited the Tengakhat Hathi Bondha Ghumtal embankment site in the district. The embankment was breached in the recent flood. The restoration work of the embankment is going on now.
The Dibrugarh Town Protection (DTP) Drain, a crucial stormwater drainage system spanning 9.5 km has failed to flush out rainwater from the town because of illegal encroachment and dumping of garbage and plastic in the drain.
The DTP drain, which originates from Seujpur (zero point), passes through densely populated areas in the heart of Dibrugarh town before reaching the Sessa River, covering a total distance of 9.5 km. A significant portion of the drain, about 5.56 km, falls within Dibrugarh town, while the remaining 3.85 km is located on the outskirts.