Rain brings relief from heat, but waterlogged roads in Jalandhar spoil charm

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 28

Heavy rain lashed the city since last evening, bringing the much-needed relief from hot and humid weather conditions. At the same time, it left some roads badly inundated.

As the weather remained pleasant throughout the day, many youngsters and families preferred to frolic around and enjoy rides across the city. But, potholed, badly worn-out roads filled with huge puddles spoiled their plans. It was common to see vehicles getting knocked out by the roadsides or getting stuck in knee-deep waters on the 66-feet road and Basti Sheikh areas.

The worst affected were residents of the old city, especially near the Domoria underbridge where there was maximum water-logging. While residents prefer zipping past across the overbridge, many have to use the underbridge for reaching access to closeby shops and offices.

Residents of Khambra along Nakodar Road and Dheena near Jalandhar Cantonment said the roads dug up to lay sewer pipes at this time could prove to be very risky.

Jagdeep Kaur, a health worker, said, “The road in the Dheena area is in such a pathetic condition that I had prayers on my lips as I crossed it today. Only a narrow strip of muddy road was commutable and there was a long row of vehicles on either side to cross over.”

Residents of Ladowali Road too are facing a similar situation as here too sewer work has been going on for the past 15 days. Here too, only one side of the road is being used even as there are shops along either side of the road. “The entire stretch of the road was in complete mess today, especially during the time when the trains were to pass through the adjoining level crossing. There was muck flowing all over and no one could even step down from the vehicle. This is not the ideal time for the MC authorities to get the sewer work done,” rued Balwant Singh, a resident of the adjoining Preet Nagar area.

MC Commissioner ration Karnesh Sharma said that the problem of water logging would be over once storm water sewer laying work would be completed in some low lying areas. This work has already been done in some parts of the city and is being undertaking along two more roads one starting from Babu Jagjeevan Ram Chowk and another near DAV Canal area.