30-mm rainfall leaves city afloat

Harshraj Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 11

Just one hour of rain today flooded most city roads, exposing the ill-preparedness of the largest Municipal Corporation of the state for the rainy season. The PAU campus recorded nearly 30-mm rainfall. The road caved in near Nehru Sidhant Kender.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), too, has failed to take preventive steps to avoid waterlogging on the highway passing through the city. Flooding was also witnessed in areas that fall within the jurisdiction of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA). Besides, commuters had a harrowing time on Southern Bypass that is maintained by the PWD.

The sewerage system in many areas got choked as the rain lashed the city in the morning. Damoria Bridge, Link Road, Hambran Road, Ferozepur Road, Barewal Road, Chandigarh Road, National Highway 1, Old GT Road, Gill Road and many other stretches remained waterlogged. The rain also flooded the streets of Ghumar Mandi, Haibowal, Dashmesh Nagar, Transport Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Bhadaur House, Sherpur, Dhandari, Giaspura, Jalandhar Bypass and many other areas.

Traffic jams were witnessed at Lakkar Bridge, Damoria Bridge and other roads.

Choked road gullies and drains 

Rainwater splashed by vehicles on flooded Elevated Road, Southern Bypass and other flyovers was falling on commuters in service lanes below. The storm water drainage on National Highway 1, Ferozepur Road and Southern Bypass was also lying choked. Many residents were seen cleaning choked road gullies. The storm water drainage is available in around 11% area of the city. However, the civic body has not finalised any plan to construct the system in the remaining parts.