Rains flood streets and houses in Astrakhan

The rain that poured on Astrakhan on April 12-13 flooded the main streets and houses of residents who live in their private houses in the low areas of the city. The city administration has sent 28 special vehicles to pumping water from the streets. The problem is aggravated since the city has no storm sewer system.

"We've never had such mess before; it started in recent years," Nadezhda Chikalova, who lives in Kurskaya Street in Astrakhan, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "We've been left without help. While earlier the city helped us - they sent special equipment for pumping rainwater out; now our authorities declare that we need to pump all that stuff out at our own expense."

According to her story, in the mid-season she spends 8000 roubles a month to pump the flood water out. However, the pensioners who live in her street cannot afford it; so, their houses are full of rain and ground water.

The water level in the house of Nikolai Remnev's relatives reaches 40 centimetres. "Of course, my relatives do not live there now," said Nikolai. "They come only if the street is dry. They tried to lift up the floor and made repairs 5 years ago. However, as you may see, it gave no help."

Leonid Khaimovich, chairman of the committee for interaction and work with infrastructure of the Astrakhan City Administration, had told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent earlier that it is planned to build local and stationary stations able to solve the problem of flooded streets and houses.