Downpour disrupts life, yet again

Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi/Zirakpur, July 21

Once again, the downpour on Saturday inundated Dera Bassi and Zirakpur. While shopkeepers, commuters and residents silently observed the insufficiency of the civic body, water entered several shops, resulting in losses for traders.

While overflowing drains troubled people in the Dera Bassi market, commuters and residents had to wade through knee-deep water in several areas. “Residents’ pleas to the local civic body to take preventive measures have fallen on deaf ears. The situation, instead of improving, has aggravated with the passage of time,” said Anil, a shopkeeper. “Had the civic body cleaned the drains properly on time, the situation could have been averted,” said another shopkeeper.

“The authorities have failed to look into the technicalities and just made temporary arrangements, which worsened the situation,” local residents alleged.

Traffic was badly affected. Barring a few roads, most of roads in town were choking with rainwater. Though traffic snarls were reported on the Ambala-Zirakpur stretch, the worst hit were the commuters on the 2-km stretch from the Zirakpur light point towards Patiala. vehicles moves at a snail’s pace. MC officials could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.