Artificial flooding inundates Assam's Margherita after overnight rain; residents blame poor drainage

Several parts of Margherita town in Assam's Tinsukia district were submerged following overnight rainfall, with residents blaming poor drainage infrastructure and inadequate maintenance for recurring artificial flooding.
 

Areas including Ledo, Borgolai and Margherita were waterlogged after the rain, disrupting normal life and bringing traffic movement to a standstill for several hours. Residents said even brief spells of rainfall are enough to inundate the towns due to clogged drains and an inefficient drainage network.
 

Water entered residential houses, while the Ledo Railway Station, markets, shops, schools and the Ledo College campus were also affected. Pedestrians, students, traders and commuters faced significant inconvenience as roads remained submerged.
 

Vice-President of the All Assam Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Tinsukia district committee, Kanchan Bora alleged that despite three consecutive terms as the MLA from Margherita, Bhaskar Sharma has failed to take effective measures to permanently address the issue of artificial flooding.
 

Bora also claimed that the legislator has not adequately raised concerns related to waterlogging, drainage infrastructure and urban flooding in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
 

He further alleged that the Margherita Municipal Board has failed to carry out proper cleaning and maintenance of drains and sewer lines, resulting in repeated flooding after moderate rainfall.
 

Residents said the problem has persisted for years, with recurring waterlogging affecting homes, businesses and public infrastructure during every monsoon season. They urged the authorities to undertake long-term drainage improvement measures to prevent artificial flooding in the town.