Abishek & Vikramaditya
Mayabunder, Oct 22: A flash flood triggered by sudden heavy rainfall in the hills affected parts of Pahalgaon village in North and Middle Andaman today, with floodwater entering several houses and causing damage to a large forest nursery. The incident occurred in the Forest Nursery area, where the flow of excess rainwater overwhelmed a small drainage channel, according to the Panchayat Pradhan.
When contacted by Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Shivanand Bairagi, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Pahalgaon, said that the flash flood affected Wards 5 and 6 of the village. He confirmed that water entered the houses of four families, causing some damage, although no major losses were reported.
Mr. Bairagi explained that the flooding was caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall in the hills, which resulted in a sudden surge of water through a relatively small drain. He clarified that there was no specific blockage in the drainage channel and that the situation arose because the volume of rainwater exceeded the channel’s capacity.
He further stated that the Forest Department’s central nursery in the affected area suffered considerable damage. The nursery, which occupies a large area, was among the worst-affected locations during the incident.
According to the Pradhan, although certain areas of Pahalgaon, including Wards 7 and 8, experience waterlogging during the rainy season, the present flooding in Wards 5 and 6 was unusual for this time of the year. He noted that such a situation had not occurred in the affected locality during the current period in previous years.
Mr. Bairagi said that similar incidents do not occur every year and that the sudden intensity of rainfall in the hills was the primary reason behind the flash flood. He added that no reports of similar flooding had come from the Pokkadera area or other nearby parts of Mayabunder at the time of speaking.
The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of low-lying areas and small drainage channels during sudden spells of intense rainfall, particularly when water flows rapidly down from the surrounding hills.
