Ferry services connecting the city to North Guwahati resumed after 11 days on Monday.
The services were temporarily suspended as the Brahmaputra started flowing above the danger level on July 12.
The Red River flowed 1.55 metres above the danger level of 49.68 metres here on July 16, its second highest in 15 years.
The river flowed at 51.23 metres just 0.23 metre below the highest mark it reached in 2004, officials of the water resource department said.
The first ferry left Fancy Bazar ghat to North Guwahati on Monday around 6.45am, carrying only two passengers, two bicycles and a motorcycle.
“Increased water level in the Brahmaputra caused severe damage to the Guwahati and North Guwahati ghats. The ghats were repaired on Sunday and the services resumed today,” an official of the inland water transport (IWT) department told The Telegraph.
“There were only a handful of passengers as most of the people are not aware that the services have resumed. Altogether 700 commuters availed of the services on Monday. Total 117 people, the highest number of passengers, took the trip in the evening. The last ferry left the city around 6.15pm,” he added.
Most of the residents of North Guwahati rely on ferry services as public transport is hardly available to and from there.
On an average, over 2,000 commuters avail of the ferry services every day. Municipal workers, students and daily wage labourers take the services on a daily basis.
