Rising flood waters in certain parts of Sangre Grande and environs on Divali evening forced residents to forgo their annual celebrations and change focus to rising flood waters.
As the muddy waters rose to dangerous levels on Divali, the residents stopped focusing on lighting deyas and began removing household items and their animals to higher ground.
The T&T Guardian was told yesterday that the North Oropouche River burst its banks around 6 pm on Wednesday and flooded Vega de Oropouche within an hour, leaving many houses under unusually high water.
Many families were still marooned in their homes up to yesterday.
Housewife Asha Ramdeen said all their efforts in cleaning in preparation for Divali quickly disappeared under the flood waters and they had to begin the cleaning process once again, except this time their task was removing slush and debris.
Many villagers said they expected the flooding due to the persistent rainfall on Tuesday night into yesterday, but didn’t think it would be so severe.
Some said despite the flooding they took their Divali celebrations indoors while some promising to light their deyas last night.
Vega de Oropouche and Fishing Pond farmers reported heavy crop losses and said damage could amount to thousands of dollars. Villagers said there is usually some rain for Divali but they could not recall flooding.
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation chairman Terry Rondon, councillor for the area Anil Juteram and corporation officials visited some of the affected families and promised to bring relief to those affected by flooding.
They will also visit the farmers when the flood water recedes to assist them and provide the necessary arrangement for compensation.