Jalandhar: Rain brings relief, but pain too for Smart City residents

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 26

The first proper spell of rain this season has brought relief from the scorching heat but also exposed the lack of preparedness by the Municipal Corporation. Within an hour of rainfall this morning, several key areas of the city were inundated, disrupting smooth commuting.

The downpour, which began around 9.45 am, caused waterlogging in various areas. Around 11, The Tribune team observed water accumulation at Chugitti Chowk, Guru Nanak Pura, Ladowali Road, Damoria underbridge, Lamma Pind, and Guru Nanak Mission Chowk. Traffic crawled as motorists struggled to navigate through flooded roads, while pedestrians were seen wading through dirty water mixed with garbage.

The situation was worsened by the garbage in a few areas. The rainwater mixed with waste, led to foul smells and unsanitary conditions on the roads. Several residents expressed disappointment at the recurring issue of waterlogging and the negligence of the authorities addressing drainage problems ahead of the monsoon.

Savita, a middle-aged woman caught in the chaos near Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, shared her experience with visible frustration. “I was trying to cross the road, but I couldn’t see anything under the water. What if there’s a pothole? I could fall and injure myself. It’s very risky, especially for elderly people and children,” she said.

Another commuter Surinder Kumar, who was on a two-wheeler, expressed anger, saying that he was afraid of rain now. "It has hardly been an hour and look at the roads. This is the condition of Smart City," he said adding that he feared that it was just the starting of the monsoon, the situation would worsen.

Local residents also point out that while pre-monsoon drain cleaning is regularly promised, there is little evidence of actual work being done.

Calls for a long-term solution, such as proper drainage system and regular garbage collection, are growing louder among citizens.

With the monsoon expected to intensify in the coming weeks, residents fear that today’s situation is just a glimpse of what lies ahead unless urgent measures are taken by the authorities.

Heavy rain hits Kapurthala too

The monsoon made its much-awaited arrival in Kapurthala today, bringing with it heavy rain that began around 11 am and continued with intensity for over an hour. While the downpour brought much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat, causing a drop of nearly 5 to 6 degrees Celsius in temperature, it also led to widespread waterlogging across several parts of the city.

Dark clouds loomed over the city since early morning, with light drizzles observed around 9 am. However, by 11 am, the rain intensified, turning roads into streams and disrupting daily life.

Several low-lying areas, including Kotu Chowk, near Satyanarayan Mandir, Mall Road, Kachahri Chowk, and the Jama Masjid Complex Market, reported water accumulation up to two feet. Commuters faced difficulties navigating waterlogged roads, and many households reported water seepage from rooftops.

The sudden and intense rainfall exposed the inefficiency of the city’s drainage system, with the Municipal Corporation’s preparedness falling short yet again. Residents expressed frustration over the recurring issue of waterlogging during the monsoon season.

Despite the chaos, the drop in temperature came as a welcome relief to locals who had been reeling under relentless summer heat for the past several weeks.