Rain wreaks havoc on roads, claims life in city

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23

Showers that lashed the city in the past 24 hours has claimed a life in the Anngarh area. The deceased has been identified as Ranjit Singh Laddu, a resident of Naian Wala Morh. He died after a shed fell on him.

He was taken to hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

A large portion of Mall Road near the MC Commissioner’s residence caved in on Sunday. Commuters had a narrow escape as the size of the pit was increasing swiftly. Till late evening, more than 200 sq yard area of the road caved in.

Observing the risk, the administration barricaded the Mall Road and closed the road for traffic. Officials said digging work on the road led to the cave-in.

Local MLA Dr Rajkumar Verka said he had asked MC Commissioner Sonali Giri to vacate the house as the pit could expand toward her house.

Local MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, MLA Sunil Dutti, Senior Deputy Mayor Raman Bakshi and district Congress president Jugal Kishore visited Heritage Street and Mall Road to inspect the situation. The leaders said the public had been facing inconvenience and they had alerted the officials.

Many roads in the city were inundated after rain. Heritage Street and around the Golden Temple also witnessed waterlogging. Rainwater entered several houses in low-lying areas and damaged household items.

Many cars broke down on roads, leading to traffic jams. There was not much traffic as compared to other days as it was Sunday.

Residents flayed the government and the Municipal Corporation for poor arrangements. The residents blamed the MC for not carrying out desilting work properly.

The MC Commissioner has issued an advisory not to open manhole covers.

Sonali Giri said, “For everyone’s safety, the MC has made arrangement for disposal motors since morning in the wake of rain. There is no need for panic and flooding will cease after rainfall subsides.”