Monsoon woes: Traffic snarls plague Zirakpur, waterlogging hits many areas

Long traffic jams engulfed Zirakpur today as continuous rain since morning resulted in significant waterlogging on roads.

The Chandigarh-Ambala national highway remained inundated, causing vehicles to navigate cautiously through knee-deep water well into the afternoon.

Office-goers and school buses reported delays of nearly an hour due to the gridlock.

"The monsoons have created a mess in Zirakpur and Dera Bassi, with pools of stagnant water visible until late evening," lamented Jyoti Bhargava, a private school teacher.

Residents criticised the Zirakpur Municipal Council and NHAI for their inability to address the ongoing waterlogging, despite significant financial investments. Many inner roads in Sector 70, Sector 71 and Mataur were out of bounds for pedestrians due to standing water.

Areas like Nayagaon and Kharar also experienced severe waterlogging, with roads clogged by slush, garbage and sewage waste. Nayagaon residents expressed frustration over the poor condition of roads, exacerbated by slow sewerage line installations. All the roads there have been dug up as the laying of sewerage lines has been going on at snail's pace.

In Kharar, significant waterlogging was reported on the National Highway near Balongi and Nirvana Greens society.