Downpour leaves Faridabad waterlogged

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, September 23

Heavy rain left several parts of the city waterlogged. Meanwhile, an assistant engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) was placed under suspension for inadequate arrangements for storm water drainage.

Power supply which was disrupted last evening could be restored by the afternoon. Heavy rain uprooted several trees and left a majority of the low-lying areas of the city, including all main roads, under 1-2 feet of water. The rain, which started around 9.30 am yesterday, continued till late last night. The accumulated water started receding around this noon when the rain stopped, said an official.

A total of 152 mm rainfall was recorded in the city till 8 am today. Ballabgarh city received 193 mm and Chhainsa received 229 mm during the period. The rainfall is claimed to be the highest in a single day in the district during the current Monsoon season.

Exposing tall claims of the civic authorities, several areas of the city, including the NIT region, Ballabgarh, Old Faridabad and several villages, remained waterlogged. Thousands of vehicles remained stuck for hours in various areas last night and this morning due to waterlogging, said SK Sharma, district coordinator, Road Safety Organisation. Several schools in the city remained closed today due to heavy rainfall, said sources in the administration.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow, who holds the additional charge of the MCF Commissioner, said that an assistant engineer looking after the areas of Sector 12 and 13 was suspended for not deploying adequate pumps for drainage of rainwater. He found only two out of six pumps functioning during a visit, he said, adding that all executive engineers of the MCF had been directed to ensure drainage of rainwater in a smooth manner.

Farmers fear losses

Sonepat: Incessant rain for nearly 40 hours has left farmers worried about losses to the standing rabi crops. The rain hampered harvesting of paddy due to waterlogging in fields. Officials said maximum 169 mm rain was recorded in Gannaur, 83mm in Sonepat, 12 mm in Gohana and 34 mm in Kharkhoda subdivision.

Govt to assess crop damage

Chandigarh: Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, the Haryana Government has directed the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to assess the amount of damage caused to the crops due to the continuous rain that lashed the state during the last two days, and submit a report. DK Behera, Director of the department, said directions had been issued to all deputy directors of agriculture to immediately take action in this regard. Farmers have also been asked to inform the deputy director of agriculture concerned within 48 hours regarding any damage caused to the crops due to the waterlogging in their fields, so that necessary action could be taken under the scheme, Behera added.