Heavy rain throws life out of gear in Jalandhar

A few hours of rain today exposed the Municipal Corporation’s inability to address waterlogging issue in the city as major roads and streets were submerged again.

Central Town was the worst-hit with knee-deep water inundating roads and seeping into shops, leaving commuters and visitors stranded for hours.

Other affected areas included Ladowali Road, Cool Road, Lamma Pind Chowk, the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway near Sarab Multiplex and Gazi Gullan. Shopkeepers in these areas expressed resentment against the clogged sewers, which cause water to accumulate for up to two days, severely impacting their businesses.

“Despite repeated requests for sewer cleaning before the monsoon, no action was taken by the Municipal Corporation”, the shopkeepers said.

The heavy rain also caused power outage in many areas and traffic lights at key intersections, including BMC Chowk, Cool Road near Iconic Mall, Urban Estate Phase-II and BSF Chowk, stopped working, resulting in traffic chaos on the roads.

Residents took to social media to express their anger, sharing images of waterlogged streets and criticising the MC for neglecting the drainage system, despite significant budget allocations for infrastructure improvements. Videos from Central Town showing bikes and cars submerged in water till the height of windshield were widely circulated, with roads resembling a virtual pool.

They also highlighted the dangers posed by hidden potholes on waterlogged roads, which often lead to accidents and vehicle damage. “Waterlogging is nothing new in the city. Even if it rains for 20 minutes, the roads are flooded. Last year, nearly every road was dug up for the upgrade of sewerage system, but I see no change,” said resident Mansi Ahuja. She called for strong action against the MC for failing to find a permanent solution to this waterlogging issue.