By Zoisa Fraser
Heavy rain on Wednesday flooded about 20 homes at Kallicharran Sand Road, Soesdyke, leaving in its wake, dead poultry, damaged household items and water-filled outhouses.
The flash flood which is the worst in over ten years in that area was blamed on clogged drains but by late yesterday afternoon residents were experiencing some relief after they came together and cleared the main trench.
When Stabroek News visited the area just after 11 yesterday morning, a few houses were surrounded by water and the occupants of others were trying to clean up.
Residents said that around 1:30 pm on Wednesday the area was hit by a heavy rain and after about two hours, knee-high water was in their bottom flats and bird pens. Residents had to leave their furniture and other valuables behind and move to higher ground.
When this newspaper arrived at Lot 9, a water-soaked piece of vinolay was outside and parts of the yard were still filled with water.
Pamela Persaud who resides in the upper flat told this newspaper that she was still in disbelief adding that her sister and her five young children reside in the bottom flat. Stabroek News was told that chairs, clothing, a vanity, a bed and a carpet were among the valuables damaged.
Persaud recalled that the water came up about half an hour after the heavy downpour started. According to her, within two hours the bottom was filled with knee-high water which had a muddy colour. The woman stressed that even the outdoor toilet and bathroom were flooded and could not be used.
She called for better drainage in the area.
Dead chickens
Over at Maharani Chiraunjie’s home, the loss was more severe. When this newspaper arrived at her home, the front of the yard was flooded and water was still in a small shop located there. Chiraunjie, wading through the shin-high water in long boots with a sad expression on her face, said that she lost about 100 fully grown chickens.
According to her, this was her main income and after the water came in the chickens began to die. She was able to pluck some but had to get rid of the rest. She like the other residents said that there was heavy flooding for about two hours and also pointed out that recently the area experienced three days of rainfall but there was no flood.
Pamela told Stabroek News that she lost about 20 chickens. She said that after the water flooded the chicken pen and her yard, she was forced to build a high pen underneath her house and evacuate her birds in an effort to save them.
When this newspaper arrived at the home, the birds were in a pen made out of zinc and it was several feet off the ground. Pamela explained that they used wood to build the floor and then covered it with zinc. Wood shavings were then thrown over that and the birds were placed inside.
The woman pointed out that drainage in the area is the problem. “If everyone cleans in front of them we wouldn’t have this problem”, she said pointing to a property next door that is under construction. This newspaper noticed that the trench behind her property and along that road was filled with thick vegetation. Added to that, parts of the trench at the front of the houses were blocked with weeds. This newspaper was also informed that sand from the road would sometime get into the trench.
At Lot 20, the sheep and ducks were left to fend for themselves. Shanti Dindyal said that her animals are trembling.
Slept in flooded house
The Newton family, inclusive of four little children had no choice but to sleep in their flooded home. Head of the household Eon told Stabroek News that he came home from work on Wednesday only to find knee-high water in his home and his other belongings water soaked.
When this newspaper arrived at the home, the water had receded but mud was left behind. Eon said that he has no relative nearby so they had no choice but to sleep in their beds which were surrounded by the flood water.
We ain’t got no choice… Last night (Wednesday) we had to cook pon de bed”, the man stressed.
He added that if there was proper drainage, the flooding would not have been so severe and the water would have receded quicker.
The residents said that heavy sand work being done by a Soesdyke contractor named C. Dookie, two streets away may have been the root cause of the flooding, since they were never flooded to this extent before.
When this newspaper visited the man’s home which is located on the public road he was not there. Contact was later made with him via telephone but he refused to comment, directing this newspaper to the village office. He also informed this newspaper that he was doing “back filling on the plot of land” and not construction.
“You can visit the village office and let them give you information. I don’t have to tell you anything. You go to them”, Dookie said.
