Half-an-hour rain leaves many city areas waterlogged again

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 25

Rain on Thursday lashed the city for around an hour, leaving many parts of the city submerged. Areas, including Powerhouse Road, Ajit Road, Parasram Nagar, Kamla Nehru Colony, Sirki Bazaar, Goniana Road, Partap Nagar and Bhatti Road, among others, remained waterlogged for most part of the day.

As per the Meteorologial Department data, the city received 12 mm rain on Thursday. The maximum temperature was recorded at 29 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 25.6 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels were recorded at 82 per cent in the morning and 89 per cent in the evening. Last week, the city had received 178 mm rainfall and most of the areas were submerged in rainwater.

In the following days, walls of many houses developed cracks and floors of some houses had caved in. Owing to a faulty drainage system and sewage overflow after rain, many areas remained inundated for many days. Apart from affecting the movement of commuters, waterlogged areas also pose a risk of the outbreak of vector-borne diseases.

Sources in the MC said, “Several years have passed and a huge amount has been spent on resolving the waterlogging problem in the city, but the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda has failed to find a solution to it date.”

It has been observed that showers lasting for only a few minutes are enough to cause waterlogging on roads and low-lying areas in the absence of a proper drainage system. Residents have to wade through a mix of sewage and rainwater that accumulates on the roads. The sources said that a major reason behind the accumulation of water was the set-up of the drainage system against the natural flow of water.

The civic body wakes up from its slumber every year when the monsoon season is too close and it could do only temporary arrangements. The apathetic attitude of the MC has raised a question mark over its functioning. Residents wonder why the MC does not start preparing for the rainy season in advance.

Gurpreet Singh, a city resident, said, “The issue of water-logging is not new. People have been facing the same problem for the past few years, but the administration has failed to provide a concrete solution till now. I am doubtful the problem of waterlogging would be sorted out soon.”