The tragic death of eight-year-old Avinash Sarkar after falling into an open drain has ignited outrage in Guwahati, spotlighting severe flaws in the city's drainage system
Guwahati's uncovered drains have once again proven deadly, claiming the life of an innocent eight-year-old boy. On the night of July 4, young Avinash Sarkar was swept away by floodwaters after he fell into an open drain in Jyoti Nagar. Avinash was on his way home with his father and another man when their scooter skidded, leading to the tragic accident. Despite desperate efforts by his father to save him, Avinash was carried away by the fast-flowing waters.
For three agonising days, rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), City Police, and District Administration scoured the city's drains in a bid to locate him. Their efforts finally paid off on July 8 when Avinash's body was discovered in a drain at Rajgarh, bringing a heart-wrenching conclusion to the search.
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This incident has shocked Guwahati and has sparked widespread outrage among its residents. It raises serious questions about the city's drainage system and the effectiveness of the Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Department, led by Minister Ashok Singhal, and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), headed by Mayor Mrigen Sarania. Both officials have long claimed to be working towards a flood-free Guwahati, yet the city's infrastructure continues to endanger lives during the monsoon season.
The death of Avinash is not an isolated event; it is part of a troubling pattern of fatalities caused by the city's neglected and dangerous drains. Since 2003, at least eight people have died under similar circumstances. These incidents determine the urgent need for comprehensive action to ensure the safety of Guwahati's residents and prevent further incidents.
This incident is not an isolated case. Since 2003, at least eight people have died after falling into uncovered drains in Guwahati. Just a month ago, Naren Choudhury died after slipping into an unguarded drain during his morning walk. In 2014, Vivek Shah was swept away by the waters of Bharalu from Anil Nagar, and his body was found a day later.
The recurring nature of these incidents raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Department. What has been done over the years to address these issues? The city is riddled with death traps, including open drains, new digging sites, half-constructed drainage projects, incomplete pipeline work, and gas pipeline digs.
Following Avinash's disappearance, rescue operations were launched, involving teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), City Police, and the District Administration. Despite their best efforts, the challenging conditions made the search difficult.
Talking to GPlus, an SDRF official who was part of the search operation explained the challenges they faced. "The heavy rain caused a lot of mud to flow from the mountains into the drain, which made our search operation extremely difficult," he said.
He added, "Around midnight on the night of the incident, a team of eight to nine SDRF personnel was searching for the child inside the drain. The rain had filled the drain with water up to about six feet, making it very hard to navigate. When the rain finally stopped, the water level decreased, but we still couldn't find the child."
"The drainage network in our city is quite complex," he continued. "The depth of the drain was more significant at the top where the incident happened, while in other areas, the drains were up to four feet deep. Our rescue team had to sit and move forward cautiously. The father of the child was also inside the drain, desperately trying to find him."
He further elaborated, "We had to remove slabs covering some parts of the drain, and many sections were too muddy, but we did our best with the equipment we had."
The grief-stricken family of Avinash is demanding answers.
Talking to GPlus, his mother, Krishnmoni Sarkar, recounted the events of that fateful night, "He had gone to the market with me, and we first stopped by my husband's garage where my nephew was also present. He said he would come home with his father, so I left him there. But he never came back. Why didn’t he come home? How did he fall into the drain in front of everyone? I am still hoping he will come back. Whenever I close my eyes, I see him"
Horenlal Sarkar, Avinash's father, believes that if the drain had been covered or there was a railing near it, his son would still be alive today. "If the drain had been covered, my child would have been safe," he lamented.
Amarjit, a relative of Avinash, echoed these sentiments, "If railings had been constructed beside the drain, maybe he would not have slipped."
The incident has sparked a wave of criticism directed at Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal and Mayor Mrigen Sarania. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the accident site and expressed full support to Avinash's parents, but Minister Singhal was notably absent. He didn't address the issue on social media or make any public statements, further fueling public outrage.
Talking to GPlus, Ajoy Dutta, Padma Shri awardee Ajoy Dutta criticised the lack of a comprehensive drainage system in the city. "What does Singhal know about construction or buildings in Guwahati? Without a proper stormwater drainage system and underground sewage system, the problem cannot be fixed," he stated.
criticised the lack of a comprehensive drainage system in the city. "What does Singhal know about construction or buildings in Guwahati? Without a proper stormwater drainage system and underground sewage system, the problem cannot be fixed," he stated.
Meanwhile, the opposition has also demanded Singhal's resignation, urging the Chief Minister to hold him accountable for the failure to ensure public safety. They argue that the minister should take moral responsibility for the ongoing issues with the city's drainage system.
On July 5, Mayor Mrigen Sarania, speaking to GPlus, said, "The water from the drain flows toward Choonsali and Chandmari. We are actively digging up the drains to find the boy. All the departments are fully involved in this search effort."
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) emphasised the work done to improve the city's drainage system. "We have made significant improvements in the drainage system to manage rainwater better. Now, in most areas, water does not accumulate for more than an hour or two. This incident is incredibly sad and unfortunate. The corporation is collaborating closely with various departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), to prevent such tragedies from happening again"
However, when questioned about the uncovered drains, talking to GPlus, Assam's Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal deflected responsibility, stating, "This is not our subject matter. It is the PWD's matter."
Talking to GPlus, a senior PWD official said, "In Guwahati, about 70% of the drains are already covered. Some drains remain uncovered due to ongoing desiltation work, and it's not possible to cover all the drains in the city at once. Additionally, some are still under construction. If the government proposes to cover or guard the drains with railings, we are ready to take immediate action on it."