REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
Residents of many parts of Anambra State are counting their losses following persistent rainfall in the area for some days now.
Aside from destruction of household property the
rain also forces civil servants to report late to work and delay the opening shops by business owners.
The rain has resulted in flash flood in different parts of Awka the state capital including Emma Nnaemeka street , Ziks Avenue, Ogechukwu street and other areas of the town
However the impact of the rain is being felt more in Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi and environs as motorists are easily trapped by the mini and artificial Rivers created by the rain on inland roads.
The flood caused by the heavy rain also pushes wastes that were dumped in the drainage channels to the roads thereby making the environment messy and open to the spread of diseases.
A resident of Nkpor and Community leader, Chief Chris Udeze who said he was in the area to have a first hand knowledge of the situation decried the development and called on the federal and state government to find a lasting remedy to the challenge.
Some other residents of Nkpor observed that the drainage constructed to take the water away from the town was too narrow and cannot contain the high volume of water that flow down from Ogidi , Abatete down to River Niger in Onitsha.
Away from damages to the roads, the flood is causing more havoc in Ogidi community as houses , farmlands , vehicles and properties are being submerged with many residents stranded and calling for help from the government.
Obosi community is also heavily affected by the ugly flood experience as some residents of Ugamuma village are being forced to evacuate their household items to safer areas.
A resident of Obosi who identified himself as Ezemou Bluetooth decried the neglect of the gully erosion sites in the town and appealed to the state and federal government to initiate plans to tackle the problem.
The Anambra State government had over the past weeks embarked on desilting of drainage channels with ministry of Environment taking the lead in ensuring compliance by residents.
However current experience shows that the solution to flooding in the state requires greater action.
