11.5mm rainfall in Chandigarh brings unending woes
Frequent traffic jams were reported as vehicles were slow due to the water collected on the roads.
3 min read
A waterlogged road in Chandigarh on Thursday.In June, the UT Administration had claimed that 95 per cent of the water gullies were cleaned. But those claims werewashed away. Express photo by Jasbir Malhi It just took 11.5mm rainfall on Thursday to expose the tall claims of the local authorities about the clean drainage system and gullies as waterlogging was witnessed at more than a dozen points.
Frequent traffic jams were reported as vehicles were slow due to the water collected on the roads. The underpasses, including Sector 11/15 dividing road, phase-1, Industrial Area, phase-2, Industrial Area, were choked and commuters were not allowed to pass through these underpasses due to the rainwater.
The Sector 20/34 roundabout, known as Gurdwara chowk on Dakshin Marg, Sector 29 ITI light point, Sector 8 slip road on Madhya Marg, Sector 35/36 roundabout too witnessed waterlogging. At many places, traffic police volunteers along with locals were found struggling to open the jammed water gullies. Motorists were found navigating the jammed roads around Elante Mall, Sector 22 market, Sector 35 market, dividing road at Sector 14 PU and Sector 15.
At the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, patients faced a lot of inconvenience due to heavy waterlogging in many areas of the hospital. Attendants had to struggle to get their patients out of ambulances and take them to the OPDs.
Yashpal Garg, Health Secretary, UT Chandigarh, there are some level issues because nearby roads are at a slightly upper level compared to emergencies and OPD. “In case of heavy rain, it takes some time to drain and sometimes leads to waterlogging. Today, it got clear in about half an hour and services returned to normal,” Garg said.
As per an official, blockages have been cleared and manholes cleaned, and the situation was under control within half an hour. In June, the UT Administration had claimed that 95 per cent of the water gullies were cleaned.
A source said, “There are a total 40 points throughout Chandigarh where waterlogging problem arises during every spell of rain. Among 40 locations are ISBT-17 roundabout, Cricket Stadium roundabout, Sector 22/23/16/17, Kissan Bhawan roundabout Sector 22/23/35/36, Iron Market roundabout Sector 29/30/31/32, Sector 40/41/54/55 roundabout and Sector 42/43/52/53 Kajheri roundabout.”
At the underpass in the Industrial Area in Chandigarh on Thursday. Express photo by Jasbir Malhi
The UT Administration and MC are informed every year about these locations before the monsoon.
When contacted, Chief Engineer, UT, C B Ojha said, “More than 90 per cent of the water gullies in Chandigarh are cleaned. A little waterlogging problem always arises when high-density rain is received. Indeed, there are certain locations, including the underpass of Sector 11/15 dividing road, phase-1, Industrial Area which always witnesses waterlogging. A choe passes from near the phase-1, Industrial Area underpass. I was informed that MC employees have cleared waterlogging at many locations.”
DSP (traffic) Jaswinder Singh said, “Instructions were already issued to the traffic police personnel to clear the waterlogged gullies. At many places, we took assistance of local people to clean the gullies. The authorities concerned, including the Municipal Corporation and UT Administration, were simultaneously informed about the choked junctions with the water.”
However, the weather department has forecast rain for the next five days except July 2.
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