Monsoon in Panchkula: Is the city prepared or just hoping for the best?

Drainage cleaning still incomplete

S K Nayyar, a city resident, said, “There are more than 8,000 drains in Panchkula, but only around 4,000 have been cleaned so far.” The work began late, he added, by which time the rain had already started. Many major drainage lines such as those measuring 5 feet, 25 feet, and 50 feet remain choked, leading to serious water accumulation.

“In places like Sector 19 and Industrial Area Phase 2, water collects and has no outlet. These are low-lying and flood-prone zones,” he said. He added that Sectors 10, 9, 15, and 16 face similar issues. In Sector 15, residents often report water entering homes due to blocked drains.

He also flagged the lack of public communication. “Teams should be formed, and their contact details must be made public. People need to know whom to call if waterlogging happens,” he said.

What officials are doing

Anju Rana, project officer (disaster management), said the drain cleaning work is being handled by multiple departments, including the Municipal Corporation, Irrigation, and HSVP. “Once the cleaning is done, a report is sent to the DC office,” she said.

Two to three coordination meetings have been held so far, she added. Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta has issued instructions to departments for a timely response to any flood-like situation.

Flood-prone areas identified

Sector 19 and Abheypur (Wards 8 and 9) have officially been marked as flood-prone. Rana said the disaster management team has already prepared evacuation lists and has rescue teams on standby. “Shelters will be provided if required, with bedding, dry rations, and water bottles. If needed, boats and swimmers will be deployed for rescue,” she said.

Control room, helpline and equipment ready

A monsoon control room has been set up, with helpline number 0172-2562135 and emergency number 112 available 24×7. Calls will be routed to the relevant department or service.

“Boats, life jackets, and rescue materials have been arranged,” Rana said. Teams from the Army, NDRF, and Red Cross are in coordination and on alert. Volunteers and sarpanches in rural areas have also been informed and trained.

Gaps remain

Despite these preparations, several gaps persist. Nayyar said emergency response teams have not yet been publicly named, and many key drains remain blocked. He also noted that a drainage channel in Sector 19 had been sold off and replaced with housing, leaving the area without any drainage outlet.

Final word

“It all depends on how serious the situation gets,” said Rana. “The disaster management team is ready, and our response will be scaled up as per the need.”

But Nayyar insisted that better planning, quicker action, and transparent communication are crucial. “Panchkula has taken steps, but with the rain already here, every delay counts.”