Monsoon deluge exposes drainage woes in Patiala 

Strong winds accompanied by a brief but intense spell of rain late Monday morning brought the city to a standstill, exposing glaring lapses in the Municipal Corporation’s much-touted monsoon preparedness.

The rain, which started around 9am, lasted barely an hour but was enough to throw daily life out of gear. Office-goers bore the brunt as waterlogged roads disrupted traffic and stranded commuters. Two-wheeler riders were seen taking shelter under trees, flyovers and shopfronts, while several cars broke down in the middle of flooded streets, adding to traffic jams at few locations.

Areas worst affected included Model Town, Azad Nagar, Choti Baradari, Old Bus Stand, Urban Estate, Sidhu Colony, and Phoolkian Enclave, where ankle to knee-deep water accumulated quickly, making roads nearly impassable.

Pedestrians struggled to find dry paths and many were forced to wade through contaminated water, as rainwater mixed.