Gurugram: On Sunday, the city’s roads and highways were severely damaged by extensive waterlogging caused by an intense overnight downpour.
“सेवा सुरक्षा और सहयोग”@trafficggm द्वारा भारी बरसात और जलभराव के दौरान भीगते हुए आमजन की विभिन्न जगह सहायता करके यातायात चलाते हुए। pic.twitter.com/yMSz0jGhrB
— Gurugram Traffic Police (@TrafficGGM) August 11, 2024
The extent of Rainfall and Impact on Gurugram
The Gurugram-Delhi Expressway and numerous subways were among the major affected locations, making commuting for commuters extremely difficult. According to the district government, by 8:30 am, Gurugram had received 53mm of rain, which had caused water to build up on main highways and in several sectors. Over 80 mm of rain was also recorded in certain locations.
There was a lot of traffic congestion as a result of the flooded roadways and clogged stormwater drains. According to a traffic police spokesman, “the rainwater submerged key intersections and service lanes, leaving commuters wading through knee-deep water and vehicles stranded.” Authorities put commuter safety first during the deluge, closing many subways and underpasses, including those at DLF phases 1 and 3, Sectors 4, and 5, Palam Vihar, and Suncity Township.
Emergency Measures and Public Response in Gurugram
Nishant Kumar Yadav, the deputy commissioner of Gurugram, stated that emergency personnel had been sent out throughout the city to handle the issue. “Our teams are working nonstop to pump out water from flooded areas, and we have stationed cranes and police vans at key stretches to assist with vehicle breakdowns,” he stated. Yadav advised locals to stay home unless essential and to stay off potholed roads.
According to Siddhant Jain, the deputy commissioner of police for the southern region, teams have been stationed at strategic locations to assist commuters and have given advice not to leave if necessary. Underpasses have been blocked since there may be a danger of flooding. The places will become better once the rain stops because they are flooded. All of the civic organizations are working hard till then, he said.
Residents were forced to stay home and postpone their weekend plans since subways and underpasses were restricted to pedestrians and non-motorized transport (NMT). Karan Mehta, a resident of Sector 48, said, “We had planned a picnic at Damdama Lake, but the roads are flooded and it’s too risky to venture out.”
Public Frustration and Infrastructure Concerns
On the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, commuters encountered significant difficulties in navigating the Narsingpur section due to the submersion of both the main road and service lanes. The situation was similarly dire. “I got stuck on the expressway for almost two hours.” I had to push my car through an area that was flooded because of the extreme waterlogging. “It was an extremely terrifying experience,” commuter Raghav Sharma from Delhi to Gurugram remarked.
Residents complained that the city’s drainage infrastructure was inadequate to handle the heavy downpours, even with the efforts of the government. Sunil Verma, a Sushant Lok resident, stated, “We had to cancel our trip to Jaipur because the roads were completely inaccessible.”
Conclusion
Member of the Tulip Ivory Residents Welfare Association in Sector 70, Ajay Sharma, blamed the authorities and builders for the ongoing problems with waterlogging. “Desilting of drains was neglected by builders for years, and little progress was made even after the MCG took over. We are still having to cope with the same issues after two monsoon seasons. During the monsoon, SPR and Darbaripur Road are unsafe for commuter use, the spokesperson stated.
Many locals posted images of the flooded roadways on social media as well as statements of frustration. Plastic and trash are clogging the stormwater drains. The DLF Qutub Enclave Residents Welfare Association (QERWA) president, Baljeet Singh Rathee, stated that the story of flooded roads and water pouring into our homes is the same every year.
READ: Remembering Susan Wojcicki: Tech Pioneer and Former YouTube CEO