Assam Minister's bizarre comment on flash floods: Guwahati's water 'black', Meghalaya's 'red'

Speaking on the Guwahati floods that occured on August 5, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal said that the water has come from Meghalaya and not that of Guwahati's. 

"This is not Guwahati's water; it is Meghalaya's water. Guwahati's water is black, Meghalaya's is red!" he said while responding to the severe waterlogging issues following unprecedented rainfall yesterday.

The city experienced a massive deluge, with approximately 50 percent of the water influx originating from Meghalaya, leading to widespread flooding. Singhal pointed out the red hue of the floodwater, attributing it to red soil from Meghalaya. "Typically, city water is black, but the color of the floodwater clearly showed it wasn't Guwahati's water," he added.

Guwahati's drainage system was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of rain. In just one and a half hours, the city recorded 136 mm of rainfall in Chandmari, a situation no existing system could manage. "The magnitude of the rainfall that occurred yesterday was unprecedented. The volume of water was more than we could handle," Singhal said.

Residents faced significant challenges, with many unable to reach their homes until midnight. "People were unable to reach their homes and many arrived as late as midnight. I am deeply saddened by this situation," the minister said.

The flood's severity was exacerbated by water from Meghalaya, which even caused damage to parts of the national highway and flowed onto GS Road. Singhal mentioned ongoing efforts to divert this water to Silsako and Deepor Beel with hopes of completing the project soon.