Heaviest rain of season in Patiala

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 11

The city was left reeling under the impact of the heaviest rainfall this monsoon season on Sunday. The torrential downpour, which began at 8.30 am and lasted until 2.30 pm, saw varying figures of rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recording 57.4 mm and the Automated Weather Station (AWS) at Punjabi University reporting a significantly higher 79 mm of rain during the same period.

The relentless rainfall exacerbated the city’s ongoing waterlogging issues, disrupted life. The inundated roads and flooded streets starkly exposed the lack of preparedness of the municipal corporation and district administration in handling extreme weather events.

Despite assurances from the authorities that the city was ready to face the monsoon, the reality on the ground told a different story. The worst-affected areas were in the old city, where rainwater entered cars parked near the Twin Park area around Arna Barna Chowk. Residents of Tripuri found themselves marooned by the rising water level, while those in Phulkian Enclave faced similar challenges.

Sanjiv Sharma, a resident of Phulkian Enclave, expressed his frustration by stating that, “Each year during the monsoon, we undergo the same predicament. Successive governments have made tall claims, but no concrete solution has been implemented to prevent flooding.”

The situation was the same across the city. Anardana Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Urban Estate Phase-II, Model Town, Chhoti Baradari, old bus stand and Lahal Colony, all experienced significant waterlogging, highlighting the inadequacies of the city’s drainage system. In several areas, rainwater entered homes, forcing residents to use wipers and buckets to drain the water out.

Residents pointed to the mismanagement of sewer systems as a key contributor to the flooding. The dumping of dairy waste into the city’s sewerage has compounded the problem, blocking the flow of both rainwater and sewage. Despite substantial funds being spent on developing a site to relocate dairy farmers outside the city, the government has failed to enforce the shift, further exacerbating the drainage woes.

Commuters, particularly those on two-wheelers, and pedestrians faced significant difficulties navigating the waterlogged streets. The flooding caused numerous vehicles to break down, leading to snarl-ups across the city. Pedestrians struggled to find paths, while two-wheeler riders risked their safety while trying to navigate through the submerged roads.