With the onset of the Monsoon, deteriorating road conditions have once again become a major concern in Sonamura town under Sepahijala district, as several roads have turned virtually impassable due to severe water logging following continuous rainfall.
Residents say knee-deep water has accumulated on several stretches, disrupting daily life and making commuting extremely difficult. In some areas, the stagnant water has become so extensive that ducks were seen swimming on the submerged roads, prompting locals to ironically compare the streets to ponds rather than public roads.
Public anger spilled onto the streets on Sunday when residents of Thakurmura Dokan Chowmuhani under the Sonamura Nagar Panchayat staged a road blockade, protesting the prolonged neglect of the road and persistent water logging. The hours long road blockade creates several hardship for daily commuters and hundreds of stranded vehicles in both sides of the road.
The protesters alleged that even moderate rainfall leaves the road submerged under knee-deep water, with floodwater entering nearby homes and causing immense hardship. They further claimed that despite the Vice-Chairperson of Sonamura Nagar Panchayat, Shahjahan Miah, using the same road regularly, no permanent solution has been implemented.
Following the protest, police reached the spot to bring the situation under control. Later, Vice-Chairperson Shahjahan Miah also visited the site and assured the demonstrators that the road from Kalibazar to Sonamura would be reconstructed after the Monsoon season. As an immediate measure, he promised that the Nagar Panchayat would clear drainage channels to facilitate the discharge of stagnant rainwater and reduce water logging.
After receiving the assurance, the protesters withdrew the blockade. However, residents remain skeptical and are now waiting to see whether the promises translate into concrete action or remain unfulfilled, as they claim has happened in the past.