Brief spell, prolonged trouble

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 18

A brief spell of rain once again troubled residents as waterlogging was witnessed in various parts of the city on Wednesday. According to Punjab Agricultural University’s website, 15.8 mm rainfall was recorded till 2.30 pm in the city.

Commuters faced a lot of inconvenience due to waterlogging at the underpass at southern bypass. Besides, the commuters complained of water accumulation at the Lodhi Club Road underpass.

Some vehicles got stuck in the waterlogged underpass at the southern bypass near Verka Milk Plant while commuters were seen taking help of each other to get their vehicles out of water.

A commuter at southern bypass, Talwinder Singh, said, “My car engine went off when I passed through the waterlogged underpass. No advisory boards have been displayed by the authorities concerned. Necessary measures should be taken to provide relief to commuters.”

Another commuter Arya Vansh said, “Rainwater accumulated at the Lodhi Club underpass in the morning but it was drained out later.”

Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Davinder Pal Singh said, “A motor has stopped functioning at one of the underpasses at the southern bypass. We will take necessary measures to drain out the water.”

Executive Engineer, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority, Karnail Singh said, “The pumps at the Lodhi Club Road underpass are functioning properly. There was no waterlogging at the underpass on Wednesday.”

More wait for road repair 

After a major portion of Kaka Marriage Palace Road caved in on Monday, the work to repair the old sewer system is underway. Meanwhile, the traffic movement at the stretch has been closed by installing barricades. Municipal Corporation Superintending Engineer Ravinder Garg said, "The work to repair the sewer lane and road portion is underway. The repair work will likely take 3-4 days."

Inundated areas

Waterlogging was once again witnessed at Feroze Gandhi Market, Ferozepur Road, Old Court Road, Haibowal, Dhandari Khurd, Hambran Raod, Samrala Chowk and National Highway 1 among others. It is also learnt that the rainwater, which had accumulated after a shower on Monday and Tuesday, has not yet been cleared from several locations in the city. Col Harjap Singh (retd), who runs his office at Feroze Gandhi Market, said, "There is no relief from waterlogging at the market roads. The Municipal Corporation must take necessary steps in this regard. Moreover, the traffic police did not take any measures to prevent congestion on roads."