As Dimapur witnessed heavy rain on September 2, the East Block Colony in Burma Camp looked like a mini river as water seeped into houses and residents had to wade through the waterlogged roads. According to the residents, this is a chronic issue for the colony which has been in want of proper roads and drainage since its inception in 1994. (Morung Photo)
Colony turns into mini river after heavy downpour
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 7
Heavy rains lashed Dimapur on September 2, bringing the mercury down and offering respite from the scorching heat to the denizens. However, along with the rains, a perennial/chronic problem also resurfaced.
Several reports of flooding and clogged drains were received from different parts of the district, especially in the town areas.
In East Block Colony, Burma Camp, Ward 4, Dimapur, several residents were left frantically trying to salvage their household items and stop the water from entering their houses.
As the downpour continued, the roads almost completely disappeared, as the entire colony was submerged in water.
“People have to sleep standing in knee deep waters,” said Egomsing, a resident while recounting the challenges faced by them during the rainy seasons.
“People living in this colony have to go through a lot of challenges, especially during this time of pandemic because they are mostly daily laborers. And on top of that the bad road and the poor drainage system has been a daily major problem for the inhabitants as well as commuters, but the students are the worst impacted ones,” he shared.
Families are forced to step out of their flooded homes. However, this is no more a new thing for them since they have been experiencing this almost every time it rains due to the poor drainage system, Egomsing added.
According to residents, there have even been incidents of children falling into the makeshift drains during such floods as the roads are no longer visible. Even for adults, it becomes risky to walk around when the entire colony is flooded.
East Block Burma Camp Youth President Mhonthung Lotha told The Morung Express that the problem is a recurring one and mainly because of the lack of proper drainage and poor road conditions, in addition to the fact that it is situated in a low-lying area.
With around 1,000 households and many of them daily wage earners, the aftermath is devastating, he shared.
Trucks ply through the colony on a daily basis as a result of which, the road condition has become worse. The youth volunteers and colony members undertake ‘social works’ every month to maintain and repair the road and drainage, but beside that, no major developmental project by the government has been taken up till date.
The colony was recognized in 1994, but till date, there has not been a proper road or drainage, according to the colony authorities.
“We have been making repeated requests to the government but the road conditions and drainage problem has remained the same,” said East Block Burma Camp GB Rangom Hau.
In 1997, road soling was carried out once, but apart from that, the colony road maintenance and repair has only been in the form of the occasional contributions from the residents.
In an attempt to tackle the drainage problem, the colony has also initiated a residential drainage system. But without the government’s backing, it becomes difficult, the GB stated.
With heavy rain, the makeshift drainages become of little use as there is no proper disposal outlet, he shared.
Besides the lack of governmental support, lack of proper urban planning and haphazard construction of infrastructure in the city are major reasons for floods during rainy seasons. As mentioned earlier, similar waterlogging was witnessed across several areas in Dimapur town, causing trouble to traders and commuters alike. Several pedestrians were seen stranded on the roadside and even vehicles waded through the roads as water levels rose after the incessant rain.
Eventually, the water recedes once the rain stops and with a good amount of sunshine, the roads resurface. However, without timely intervention, families and residents in such areas have to live in constant worry of having to deal with the inundation every time it rains.
