Ludhiana, Punjab, was inundated with heavy monsoon showers on Thursday, revealing significant deficiencies in the city’s civic infrastructure and preparedness. The city recorded 29 mm of rainfall by 8:30 AM, leading to widespread waterlogging and disruption.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the downpour exposed the city’s civic shortcomings, turning roads into streams from iconic landmarks like the Clock Tower to densely populated areas such as Madhopuri, Dhokka Mohalla, and Chandigarh Road. Even affluent neighbourhoods including Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar, and Gurdev Nagar experienced severe waterlogging. The situation was compounded by road cave-ins at various locations, causing significant traffic disruption across multiple parts of the city.
Despite assurances from the Municipal Corporation regarding civic preparedness, the torrential rain has starkly highlighted the infrastructure’s vulnerability. Residents found themselves stranded, with many questioning the validity of Ludhiana’s ‘Smart City’ designation amidst the evident civic failures.
In the Kot Mangal Singh Nagar area, a harrowing incident occurred when an elderly man, en route to work, fell into an open sewer along with his bicycle. Alert locals intervened promptly, managing to rescue him and avert a potential tragedy.
The Model Town area emerged as one of the worst-affected zones. A road cave-in at Mintgumri Chowk, which had reportedly occurred on Monday and remained unrepaired, exacerbated the waterlogging issues. Residents faced further difficulties on Deep Hospital Road in the same area, where a significant road cave-in and massive potholes led to four accidents. The situation in Model Town Extension saw three students on their way to coaching classes experience a dangerous ordeal when their e-rickshaw overturned, resulting in one student sustaining an arm injury.
Social activist Arvind Sharma stated that repeated appeals to authorities for the repair of road cave-ins and the clearing of the sewerage system had gone unheeded. “The consequences of that inaction are now visible to everyone,” Sharma remarked, pointing to the pervasive issues caused by the lack of maintenance.
Residents of Gurdev Nagar also reported a road cave-in, into which a car subsequently fell. Ravinder Pal Singh Ghai, a local activist and resident, raised concerns about illegal road digging, which he claims has weakened road structures. “We have witnessed only one spell of heavy rainfall so far, and the results are already evident,” Ghai commented, attributing the structural failures to unauthorized excavation practices.
Rajwinder, a resident of BRS Nagar, described the immediate aftermath of the rain, noting, “Just a few hours of rain led to severe waterlogging and streets were submerged up to knee level, making it difficult for people to step out of their homes.”
Harshpreet Singh, from Chandigarh Road, voiced frustration over the recurring problem. “Every year the same story repeats. Why can’t the authorities fix this once and for all?” he questioned. Singh also highlighted the risks associated with navigating waterlogged streets, where potholes remain hidden, increasing the likelihood of serious accidents.
Prabhleen, a mother of a 14-year-old, recounted the morning commute chaos. Despite heavy rain, she attempted to take her son to school, only to be caught in a massive traffic jam that persisted for nearly an hour. “Left with no other option, returned home. I think schools should declare a holiday in such circumstances,” she stated, emphasizing the severity of the traffic disruption.
Meanwhile, Dr. P.K. Kingra, Head of the Department of Agricultural Meteorology and Climate Change at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), provided an meteorological outlook, indicating that rainfall is expected to continue over the next two to three days. Dr. Kingra also noted that this rainfall would be beneficial for the major Kharif crop, paddy, which requires ample water.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
