Assam: Ledo residents demand permanent drainage solution as floods paralyse coal town

Heavy rainfall brought life to a standstill across Ledo town today as floodwaters submerged key commercial and transport hubs, reigniting local anger over the absence of adequate drainage infrastructure.

The downpour inundated Ledo Bazaar, the railway station approach road, and Ledo College Road, forcing shop owners to watch helplessly as water entered their establishments. Vehicle movement came to a complete halt as roads disappeared under several feet of water.

The flooding has exposed the vulnerability of this coal mining town's infrastructure, with residents pointing to the annual recurrence of the problem as evidence of administrative neglect. Local businesses bore the brunt of the waterlogging, with many forced to suspend operations.

The crisis highlights deeper infrastructure deficits in the region under the 83rd Margherita Constituency. Residents have specifically criticised Ledo Gaon Panchayat representatives and Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma for failing to address the drainage crisis despite its predictable annual occurrence.

The situation has prompted calls for intervention from both state and central government levels. Local communities are demanding that the BJP-led administrations prioritise a comprehensive drainage overhaul to prevent future flooding episodes.