Rain brings respite for residents, misery for commuters

The rain, which started in the city around 6:45 am on Tuesday, brought smiles on the faces of residents as they got a respite from the sultry weather. At the same time, it troubled many, who had to struggle hard to drain excessive water from their houses and workplace premises located in low-lying areas. As it rained for over three hours, the low-lying areas in the city were submerged in water and it took almost three hours for the rainwater to recede.

Low-lying areas such as Chawni Mohalla, Nali Mohalla, near Chandan Nagar, Jainpuri, Dholewal and near Field Ganj were in bad shape after the rain, which continued for around four hours. Even in posh areas near Mall Road, puddles of water were witnessed.

Surinder Kumar, a resident of Chawni Mohalla, said he had to come to work by passing through a long stretch of road where accumulated rainwater caused inconvenience. “This is a routine affair in the area in every rainy season. But the problem has never been resolved. Hence, we are used to such rains and waterlogging,” he said.

The under bridge near Chand Cinema was deluged in water due to overflowing of the Buddha Nullah passing nearby. Shiv Ram, a resident, said crores were spent by the government on the construction of the bridge but only one rain exposed everything.

“The nullah was overflowed on Tuesday following continuous rain. Crores of rupees spent on the under bridge went into drain. Residents are facing a lot of inconvenience. Those riding two-wheelers had to take alternative routes to reach their destinations as the bridge was flooded,” he said.

In many areas, sewers overflowed due to which residents faced a difficult time. Though MC workers were seen cleaning sewer lines, waterlogging troubled commuters. Waterlogging was witnessed in many areas and on roads in the city.

The Janakputri area always remains at a high risk in rainy days as the rainwater enters houses and shops.

“Though we have constructed mini-walls in front of doors of our houses, during heavy rainfall, water enters the premises, causing losses every year. This is a low-lying area, the authorities need to come up with a plan to drain out  excessive rainwater. Every year, rains come as a nightmare,” said Beenu Prasad, a resident staying at a vehra in the Janakpuri area.