42-year-old Tutul Borgohain died after falling into an uncovered drain on the National Highway at Lalmati during a morning walk. Second such death in Guwahati in 2026; Payel Nath died in April after falling into an uncovered drain in Maligaon during heavy rain.

At least 10 people, including four minors, have died in such incidents since 2003. July 2024: eight-year-old Abhinash Sarkar fell into an open stormwater drain at Jyotinagar during heavy rain; body recovered three days later. September 2024: another minor died after falling into a manhole at Kahilipara.

Gauhati High Court in May 2026, hearing public interest litigation on artificial flooding and unsafe drainage systems, directed the state government to take immediate steps to cover all open manholes in Guwahati. The court observed that exposed manholes and drains pose grave threat to public safety, particularly during rain when they become submerged and difficult to spot.