Three hours of heavy rainfall caused the Cipero River to break its banks yesterday resulting in extensive flooding to residents of Rooplal Avenue, Golconda.
Among those hardest hit were Sonnyboy Rooplal whose downstairs apartment was covered in five feet of water.
Rooplal lost over $45,000 worth of valuables including a fridge, stove, cupboards, beds and a wardrobe.
Rooplal, who was asleep with his wife, Dolly, on the upper floor of the house, said he was awakened around 4 am to thunder and lightning.
“My wife was up looking out the window and the lightning was flashing as bright as daylight. About 6 am when morning came and we looked out the entire front yard was like a sea,” Rooplal added.
He said the water was gushing and pushed through the doors leading to the downstairs apartment.
“Everything was destroyed,” Rooplal said, as he swept away slush and rolled up a muddy carpet. By midday when the waters subsided, Councillor for Corinth/Cedar Hill Shawn Premchand came to help. With the assistance of neighbours, the yard was cleaned.
Neighbour Margaret Khan said she was fortunate that the water did not destroy any of her possessions.
“It washed away the bins but that’s it. During the last flood the water came up higher,” Khan said. She added that the Cipero River was in need of dredging.
Meanwhile, Premchand said the houses were built on the river bank and it has been several years that complaints had been lodged with the Works Ministry to clear the river.
He said a contractor closeby had backfilled extensively causing the river to become narrow. Premchand said a tree fell down in the river and was not cleared. He promised to continue to make recommendations to have the river dredged by Central Government.