Heavy rain brings Gurugram to a standstill
Kulwinder Sandhu and Sanjay Yadav
Accompanied by thunder and lightning, a moderate to heavy spell of rain lashed Gurugram on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in waterlogging and traffic congestion on major roads, including the Delhi-Jaipur expressway, with reports of power outages in many areas. The heavy downpour lasted for about two hours. Subsequently, light showers continued in some parts of the district, including many areas of the city, until the filing of this report.
The two-hour heavy rainfall disrupted and paralysed normal life in the metropolitan city, with vehicles reportedly stuck on the old Gurugram-Delhi road, Sohna Road, Rajiv Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Subhash Chowk and several other areas.
Key areas, including Sector 56 Road, Golf Course Extension Road, Subhash Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Sohna Road, Udyog Vihar and other parts of old Gurugram, were inundated, bringing traffic to a standstill. The traffic police were seen working to manage the situation.
The downpour not only resulted in waterlogged roads and traffic jams, but also left many vehicles stranded in the water. Schoolchildren faced significant challenges as school buses and vans were stuck in traffic and waterlogged areas. Power outages were reported in various parts of the city shortly after the waterlogging occurred. Even after the rain subsided, it took hours for the traffic police to restore normal flow on the roads.
In an official statement, DCP Traffic Virender Vij said cranes were deployed at identified locations to remove vehicles stuck in the waterlogged areas, ensuring that drivers faced minimal issues. Traffic officers stood in waterlogged conditions to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles.
Heavy rains once again highlighted the city’s drainage infrastructure challenges, as residents faced significant inconvenience due to blocked roads and traffic jams.
“I went on a scooter to pick up my son from school, but it got stuck in a waterlogged road. This isn’t the first time —Gurugram has truly become ‘Jalgram’, and everything here seems to be at the mercy of God,” said Vinita, a resident of Sector 14.
“I was stuck in a traffic jam in the Subhash Chowk underpass for 40 minutes with no relief in sight. The underpass was waterlogged, and vehicles were stranded. Every time it rains, the poor state of this cyber city is exposed,” said Kunal Rana, a commuter trapped in the congestion.
“Despite repeated problems, the MCG and GMDA have not effectively cleaned the drainage systems, leading to waterlogging even after light rainfall,” said Gaurav Singla, a resident of Sushant Lok.
According to the district administration, Gurugram recorded 62 mm of rainfall today, with Wazirabad seeing the highest at 88 mm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert in the district and forecasted more rain in the region, predicting showers until September 8.