GUWAHATI: Guwahati’s students, trapped in hour-long traffic, were struggling to return home after yesterday’s torrential downpour left the city in chaos. Students from Jorabat and Sonapur, who should have been home hours ago, remained stuck in gridlock, much to the anxiety of their parents.
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Worried parents resorted to calling school officials, drivers and their children but the transportation seem to have come to a standstill.
Talking to GPlus, a parent whose son studies in Montfort School said, "My son left the school at around 3 PM after the school got over but is yet to reach home."
"He hasn't eaten since his lunch time. I am worried about him and the other kids who are stuck in the school bus since several hours. Last I spoke to the driver at around 9 PM, he mentioned that they are near Khanapara," she further added.
Another parent whose daughter studies in Montford School too said, "We live in Maligaon, it will take an eternity to reach home. How is our government so ill-prepared about flood? A 2.5-hour rainfall brought everyone to a standstill."
Several students of Assam Don Bosco University in Sonapur are also among the ones who are stuck in the traffic.
"We left our campus in Sonapur at 3:30 PM and it's 10:30 PM and we've only reached Khanapara. We have actually been stuck in Khanapara for the last two to three hours. It's ridiculous!" Mehreen, a student of Assam Don Bosco University said.
"We have been stuck in traffic for the last six hours. It is a big problem that every working citizen has been facing for a very long time. I think the main reason is that the government gets away with it by saying that the previous government did it. We need to point out the people who are responsible for building these things and hold them accountable, so that we can replace them for more efficient and deserving people. Also, we definitely deserve a state holiday after all this!" Gunjan Das, Faculty of Assam Don Bosco University said.
The entire Guwahati came to a standstill on August 5 after it experienced heavy downpour for a few hours. Several areas of Guwahati still continue to be waterlogged and people are stuck in hour long traffic jams. Many had to resort to boarding backhoe loaders or rubber boats to cross the streets or reach their destinations. Several four-wheelers and two-wheelers were reported to have submerged in the flooded streets of Guwahati.