97mm rainfall floods Millennium City again, old Gurugram areas worst hit
28 major waterlogging hotspots identified, Sheetla Mata Road tops chart
Nearly 97 mm of rainfall on Friday left large parts of Gurugram waterlogged for the second consecutive day, with residents avoiding flooded roads and the district administration’s work-from-home advisory remaining in force.
Old Gurugram bore the brunt once again, with Sheetla Mata Road emerging as the city’s worst-affected stretch. Officials identified 28 major waterlogging hotspots this monsoon, including Dundahera, Surat Nagar, Bajghera, Dhanwapur Road, Old Bus Stand area and Old Delhi Road. Shops shut early as several lanes remained submerged.
The flooding comes just two days after videos of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s convoy wading through water near Sheetla Mata Temple went viral.
Officials attributed the recurring problem largely to encroachments on stormwater drains and unplanned urban growth. Areas such as Sector 9, Kadipur and parts of the NH-8 corridor continue to face flooding because of blocked drains, while the drainage network in Sectors 14 and 17 is under severe pressure from dense stilt-plus-four developments.
GMDA Chief Executive Officer PC Meena said major drainage channels had been cleared of encroachments this year and action on smaller encroachments would follow. Residents, however, said chronic flooding has become an annual feature despite repeated promises of a permanent solution.
Precast drains to replace conventional network
After spending over Rs 300 crore on drainage and stormwater projects over the past three years, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is now planning to introduce precast drains in old Gurugram. MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said the pre-fabricated drainage system would allow drains to be installed quickly without digging up entire roads, making it suitable for the area’s narrow and congested lanes. Unlike conventional drains, precast units are manufactured off-site and assembled on location, reducing construction time and traffic disruption.
The civic body is likely to begin the project on the Sheetla Mata Road corridor, which has emerged as Gurugram’s most flood-prone location this monsoon. Officials said the pilot stretch is yet to be finalised.
