Priya

Content Writer
Creative sapien
Gym freak
Kattar Hindu

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

This is more than just a visual. It is the reality of our drains.

The reality behind Guwahati's floods. The reality behind the dying Bharalu. And the consequence of treating public spaces as dumping grounds.

Every piece of garbage thrown carelessly finds its way somewhere. Eventually, it finds its way back to us.

#beresponsible #guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

At what point do we stop calling this "heavy rain" and start calling it what it really is, that is, a failure of urban planning?

A few hours of rainfall, and Guwahati begins collapsing. Maligaon, Jorabat, Six Mile, Kahilipara, Zoo Road, Beltola, Panjabari, Hatigaon and several other localities are either submerged or crawling under massive traffic congestion. People are stranded for hours, businesses are disrupted, emergency services struggle to move, power cuts become routine, and an entire city's productivity is lost. In Jorabat alone, commuters reportedly remained stuck for over 10 hours. How can this ever be accepted as normal?

The question is no longer whether Guwahati will flood. The question is why it keeps flooding despite years of assurances. If desiltation has been carried out, where is the water supposed to go? If drains have been cleaned, why do they fail within hours? If plastic waste is blocking the flow, why is waste management still failing? If hills are sending down silt, why aren't preventive measures in place? If wetlands and natural drainage channels have disappeared under unchecked construction, who allowed that to happen? Every stakeholder has a role in this crisis, but no one seems willing to own it.

What is even more frustrating is how predictable all of this has become. The administration knows the vulnerable locations. The public knows them. The rain knows them. Yet every spell of rain unfolds exactly the same way, as if the city has learnt to prepare for traffic diversions instead of preventing flooding itself.

Infrastructure is not judged by how it performs on sunny days. It is judged by how it performs when conditions are tested. And right now, Guwahati is failing that test every single time it rains. DISAPPOINTED!

#Guwahati #GuwahatiCity #Flood

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Last night’s flooding in Maligaon serves as an important reminder.

Even after the rain stops, waterlogged roads, hidden potholes, and open drains can pose serious risks.

I request everyone, especially pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, to stay vigilant and travel with caution. Your safety comes first. #Guwahati #StaySafe #BeResponsible

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Every time it rains in Guwahati, the feeling isn't relief anymore. The first thought is: Will the roads get submerged again? More often than not, the answer arrives before we do.

We have heard about desiltation drives, drain cleaning and unclogging operations. Yet the moment a few hours of rain hit the city, many roads begin resembling waterways. It almost feels as if the water never received the memo that the drains were cleared.

This is what puzzles people. If the drains have been desilted, why are the same localities flooding repeatedly? Is it because plastic and garbage dumped by people are choking the drains all over again? Is the desiltation incomplete? Is it poor maintenance, blocked outlets, faulty planning, or the absence of a long-term drainage strategy? The truth is, this cannot be reduced to a single reason. Citizens who irresponsibly dump waste into drains must be held accountable. But if crores are being spent on desiltation every year and the city still floods after a few hours of rain, then GMC and the concerned authorities also owe the public an honest explanation. What exactly isn't working?

Blaming only the authorities would not be convenient. Blaming only the public would be equally dishonest. Because it's an accountability from both. Civic sense and civic administration must work together. Because if the same roads continue to drown after every spell of rain, then it's fair to ask: are we solving the problem, or merely repeating the process?

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Dustbins: Present. ✅
Civic sense: Missing. ❌

The real irony. 🤷‍♂️

📍Dighalipukhuri, Guwahati

#beresponsible #guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

A welcoming week for Guwahati!

It's encouraging to see two important initiatives being taken: one to tackle roadside garbage dumping and another to address the long-standing menace of reckless green buses.

Positive steps deserve appreciation, especially when they directly impact public life.

The decision to cancel licences of erring bus drivers and suspend violating vehicles sends a strong message that traffic rules cannot be treated as optional. Also directing the green bus strictly to maintain the left lane only and no overtaking, will really be helpful for the other commuters of the road. If enforced consistently, these measures have the potential to make Guwahati's roads safer and daily commuting far less stressful.

Similarly, GMC's initiative against roadside dumping is a step in the right direction. But for such drives to succeed, enforcement must go hand in hand with infrastructure. Adequate garbage bins across the city will make it easier for residents to dispose of waste responsibly and strengthen the campaign's impact.

Now comes the real test, which is consistency. Hopefully, these initiatives translate into lasting improvements, making Guwahati cleaner, safer and more disciplined. The public will certainly be watching.

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

And this is the 4th incident in 4 days that I am posting about the reckless driving & havoc created by Guwahati's green buses.

Someone once said, "You can't wake someone who is already awake." Perhaps that's exactly the problem.

So I'll keep counting the number of incidents before action finally replaces silence this time.

#guwahati #guwahaticity #greenbus

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Another day in Guwahati, another display of green bus hooliganism.

This time in Maligaon. Thankfully, no life was lost. But do we really have to count ourselves lucky every time such an incident doesn't end in a tragedy?

How many more incidents like this will it take before the concerned departments and authorities finally step in and intervene? Ridiculous!

Credit: Raj Shekhar (Instagram)

#Guwahati #GuwahatiCity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

"Avoid using phones while driving."

Isn't this one of the most basic traffic rules that every driver is expected to follow?

Then how is a green bus driver openly attending phone calls while driving? If such blatant violations happen in plain sight, is it any surprise that reckless driving has become so common on Guwahati's roads? Isn't this one of the reasons for the deaths and repeated reported accidents by the green buses?

Will we still see silence by the authorities on this matter as well?

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Just look at the condition of a busy road in Guwahati in broad daylight. Green buses are blatantly choking the entire road, and it's evident that this is entirely deliberate. The entire stretch comes to a standstill simply because these drivers behave as though the road belongs only to them.

Yesterday two innocent people lost their lives because of the hooliganism of these green bus drivers. After countless complaints, repeated violations and endless inconveniences caused to the public, why are the authorities still silent?

Why is this behaviour still being tolerated? What exactly is wrong with the authority ?

Credit: rambabukumar_58 (Insta user)

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

This needs to stop. The reckless driving of Guwahati's green buses cannot keep being normalised.

People have raised their voices time and again. Even I have raised questions about it many times. Yet there has been no meaningful intervention. Now, one person is dead, another is critically injured, and the driver has fled.

Hope the authorities are satisfied now. Acting before someone died would have been far too inconvenient, wouldn't it?

#guwahati #guwahaticity #greenbus

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Kudos to the policeman and the citizens who stepped in to prevent accidents and ensure commuters' safety.

But where is the authority responsible for fixing the road in the first place?

Is it acceptable to ignore potholes this dangerous and wait for an accident before taking action?

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

A flyover is built to make commuting safer and smoother.

But within just four months of its inauguration, the Maharaj Prithu Flyover is making headlines for a different reason: repeated accidents and vehicles skidding during rain, along with the tragic loss of a Guwahati resident, Parimal Medhi.

If a newly inaugurated flyover becomes hazardous within months, shouldn't its engineering, execution and quality be questioned?

If it is already raising serious safety concerns, who takes responsibility?

More importantly, who is accountable before another life is lost?

Video/ photo : Internet sourced

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

If timely intervention doesn't happen on this stretch of Narengi Railway Station Road, it won't be long before it turns into another Beltola Bazar.

The solution isn't eviction alone, but vendors should be given properly designated spaces so that livelihoods and public movement can coexist.

#guwahati #GuwahatiCity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

The heartbreaking scenes from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are beyond words.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. If you have family, friends or loved ones in the flood and landslide-hit areas, please stay in touch with them, ensuring they have contact with the local authorities.

Urging everyone to stand together and extend whatever help we can in these tough times. Hoping for everyone's safety and strength.

#AssamFloods #assam #floods #arunachalpradesh #landslides

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Some pictures don't need a caption; they very well explain the problem themselves.

Garbage dumped right beside a board that clearly says, "Don't throw garbage. Else penalty will be imposed." The irony is hard to miss.

Perhaps this says more about our civic sense than it does about the lack of intervention.

📍 Silpukhuri, Guwahati

#beresponsible #guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

Kudos to the entire team of Raindrops Initiative Assam for taking up such an exemplary initiative to protect and preserve the roadside plants across Guwahati.

It's truly heartening to see young people stepping forward to make a tangible difference. I hope many more youths come together and do their part in preserving the greenery of our beloved city, in whatever way they can.

Small efforts like these inspire bigger change.

#guwahati #guwahaticity

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

নীলপৰ্বতবাসিনীং নমস্তে কামৰূপিণীম্।
কামদাং কামিনীং কাম্যাং কামাখ্যাং কামৰূপিণীম্।।

অসমভূমিৰ আধ্যাত্মিক পৰম্পৰা আৰু স্বৰ্ণিল ঐতিহ্যৰ অনন্য নিদৰ্শন শক্তিপীঠ কামাখ্যা ধামৰ পৱিত্ৰ অম্বুবাচী মেলাৰ আজি শুভ প্ৰবৃত্তি। বসুমতীৰ এই পৱিত্ৰ কালছোৱাত সকলো ভক্তপ্ৰাণ ৰাইজলৈ আন্তৰিক শুভেচ্ছা আৰু সেৱা জনালোঁ।

প্ৰাৰ্থনা জনাইছোঁ, মা কামাখ্যাৰ অপাৰ কৰুণাই সকলোৰে জীৱনলৈ সুখ, শান্তি আৰু সমৃদ্ধি কঢ়িয়াই আনক।

জয় মা কামাখ্যা! 🙏

#ambubachimela #ambubachi #ambubachimahayog

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

চিৰ চেনেহী মোৰ ভাষা জননী !

অসমবাসী আজি পুনৰবাৰ গৌৰৱান্বিত । আমাৰ আজোককা ভাষাৰ ওজা হেমচন্দ্ৰ বৰুৱাদেৱৰ হেমকোষে আকৌ এবাৰ অসম তথা সমগ্ৰ উত্তৰ-পূব ভাৰতলৈ গৌৰৱ কঢ়িয়াই আনিছে । সাদিন-প্ৰতিদিন গোষ্ঠীৰ অধ্যক্ষ শ্ৰীজয়ন্ত বৰুৱাদেৱৰ অক্লান্ত পৰিশ্ৰমৰ ফচল গিনিছ ৱৰ্ল্ড ৰেকৰ্ডৰ অধিকাৰী 'হেমকোষ দ্বিভাষিক ব্ৰেইল অভিধান'ক উত্তৰ-পূব ভাৰতৰ উল্লেখযোগ্য সাফল্যসমূহৰ ভিতৰত অন্যতম হিচাপে " বিশ্বজনীন মানচিত্ৰত অষ্ট লক্ষ্মী" (Ashta Lakshmi on the Global Map) ত অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত কৰি বিশেষ স্বীকৃতি প্ৰদান কৰা হৈছে ।

অষ্ট লক্ষ্মীৰ বিগত ১২ বছৰৰ অন্যতম গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ সাফল্যসমূহৰ ভিতৰত এই প্ৰচেষ্টাক স্বীকৃতি প্ৰদান তথা অন্তৰ্ভূক্ত কৰাৰ বাবে মাননীয় প্ৰধানমন্ত্ৰী শ্ৰীযুত নৰেন্দ্ৰ মোদী ডাঙৰীয়ালৈ আন্তৰিক ধন্যবাদ জ্ঞাপন কৰিছোঁ । আজোককাৰ এই অমৰ সৃষ্টি অসমৰ ভাষা-সংস্কৃতিৰ সুবিশাল আকাশত এনেদৰেই প্ৰতিপল জিলিকি ৰওক...।

@narendramodi
@PMOIndia

[Rishi Baruah @rishi_baruah]

“Atithi Devo Bhava”

As a resident of Guwahati, It’ is a matter of pride that Japanese PM will be in our city. Hopefully this shall unlock serval potential. I, too, want the Japanese delegation to see the very best of our city.

But why does Guwahati suddenly dolls up only when a VIP visits?

Roads repaired overnight. Dividers painted. Garbage cleared. Suddenly there is grass on dividers. It’s like waking up to a new city. I love the new city. It’s prettier.

A world-class SMART city isn't one that gets a facelift before a foreign delegation visit.

There is a saying, Your Character Is What You Do When Nobody Is Watching.

At the end, my question comes to one:
Don't the citizens of Guwahati deserve a clean, beautiful, well-managed city too or this privilege reserved only for a limited & selected time ?

#Guwahati #Guwahaticity