Monsoon woes: Heavy rain in Ludhiana exposes infra gaps in city areas

Skies broke loose over Ludhiana but it wasn’t the rainfall that stunned the city but what followed it. From crumbling roads to overflowing drains, every corner bore the stamp of disruption. The monsoon exposed more than just the limits of infrastructure — a daily grind turned into an obstacle course.

After witnessing heavy rainfall over the past few days, the downpour triggered civic chaos across key areas of the city. The aftermath has left commuters, residents and local institutions grappling with severe disruptions.

One of the worst-hit spots was Mintgumri Chowk in Model Town where a portion of the road caved in just a few metres from the busy junction. A 10-ft crater was formed after the portion of the road collapsed due to structural failure in an underground sewer chamber, allegedly triggered by careless cable drilling by a private firm. The site, surrounded by schools, hospitals and colleges, saw major traffic snarls as the repair work by the Municipal Corporation (MC) began late on Saturday afternoon.

“It isn’t just inconvenience — but a potential hazard. A mishap could occur anytime,” warned social activist Arvind Sharma, who said similar complaints from a nearby area had gone unheard.

Just a few km away, opposite a gurdwara, water is being wasted after breakage of a drinking water pipe, which is further adding to public distress and wastage of natural resources. Mosquitoes are breeding in the stagnant water, which can lead to water-borne diseases.

He said MC officials did visit the site but failed to take concrete steps.

“They saw the mess, nodded and left. It ends there and now, people are waiting for them to repair the same”, he said.

Parents dropping children to school were visibly anxious. “It took us 40 minutes to cover a 10-minute stretch. Kids are drenched before the day even begins,” shared Renu Bhatia, a mother navigating the waterlogged stretch near the chowk.

The situation wasn’t much better for patients en route to nearby hospitals. “It’s not just delays — it’s the risk,” said Jagdeep Singh, who visited a diagnostic centre near Mintgumri Chowk.

In Kadian, Takshila Road has deteriorated into a virtual swamp. Rainwater accumulation near Takshila Temple has not only obstructed worshippers but also endangered daily commuters. “I nearly skidded into a pothole beneath the water,” recounted Harpreet Grewal, a motorcyclist who escaped unhurt.

Meanwhile, waterlogging around the Jalandhar Bypass has created another bottleneck, impacting not only city dwellers but also those entering or exiting the city. The deluge has stretched up to Jassian Road, submerging key stretches and leaving vehicles stranded during peak hours.

“It’s difficult to commute through the route,” said Vikramjeet Singh, a daily traveller. “You don’t know if you’re driving on a road or into a pothole — it’s complete chaos.”

MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the cave-in repair work at Mintgumri Chowk was underway. “The issue stems from ageing pipe infrastructure. Though the South City underpass doesn’t fall under our jurisdiction, we’re still helping to clear the water. We care about convenience of residents and are doing our best,” he added.

Even the Panjab University Extension Library isn’t spared from the monsoon’s wrath. Rainwater has reached its corridors while the ceiling drips steadily, making passage nearly impossible. Members and students, already tackling academic stress, now find themselves sweeping water and dodging leaks just to reach reading rooms. “It’s more mop than manuscript these days,” one student muttered, clutching a stack of damp notes.

Librarian Chander Parkash said the tender for the construction and maintenance works had already been passed and the works had started. In coming days, the issue would also be taken care of as repair work would be done here also.