Residents of Naqaliso Settlement in Davuilevu Housing are urgently calling on authorities to address blocked drains and restore proper drainage systems after their homes suffered damage from flooding linked to the expansion of the Nasinu Cemetery. The flooding has left seven houses affected, as debris from development works conducted by Fiji Corrections Services has obstructed the drainage.
In a distressing turn of events, families reported that water surged into their homes within minutes, damaging furniture and electronics as residents rushed to safety. One affected resident, Akshay Atish, recounted his experience when he received a call while at work informing him of the sudden flooding. He stated, “The flooding happened very suddenly… Within minutes, the water level rose quickly and soaked our furniture and electrical items. We were not prepared for something like this.” He remarked that this was the first flooding incident his family had experienced in three years of residing in the area and attributed the chaos to a blocked culvert.
Ashwini Lata, the president of the Settlement Committee, expressed frustration, noting that the community had cautioned engineers against blocking drainage before the construction began, anticipating this outcome. “We had warned the engineers and contractors not to block our drainage because we knew this would happen. But no proper action was taken,” Lata said. With families now adversely affected, she emphasized the necessity of fully restoring the drainage system and finding a long-term solution to avoid further risks to their homes.
The residents of Naqaliso are illustrating resilience in the face of these challenges, emphasizing the need for immediate support and action from local authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Their collective voice seeks not only restoration but also a proactive plan to safeguard the community’s well-being moving forward.
Leave a comment