Few hours of rainfall submerges city, again

Once again, a few hours of rainfall submerged several areas of summer capital Srinagar on Thursday, exposing the city’s poor drainage system and Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s failure to find a permanent solution to the problem. 

The downpour led to massive water-logging. In many parts ofthe city including commercial hub Lal Chowk the rain water entered shops andother commercial setups, invoking resentment among traders.

   

Most of the city markets, roads and localities remainedsubmerged for hours while as commuters and locals had to wade through water toreach respective destinations.

People living in different areas of the city suffered owingto the water-logging and pedestrians had either to change the routes or wadethrough knee deep water.

Some of the major junctions across city also got deluged,resulting in traffic snarls since morning.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) CommissionerKhurshid Sanie said they have pressed men and machinery into service to dewaterthe affected areas.

The Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) remained deluged for more thantwo hours and busy markets at Court Road and Palladium Gali remainedinaccessible to shoppers.

“The entire drainage network had got blocked at PalladiumGali which led to the situation, but men and machinery were pressed intoservice to clear the area,” said the Commissioner.

He said that new drainage network constructed from PostOffice to Regal Chowk will be made functional by middle of this month.

“That will ease the problem,” he said while responding to aquery, adding that heavy precipitation led to overflow of rain water fromdrains.

Latief Ahmad, a restaurant owner at Ghanta Ghar said eachtime there is a rainfall the situation worsens, adding he had complained aboutthe frequent water-logging with the Governor’s grievance cell.

“This situation is leading to business losses. The entirecity market turns into a cesspool even if there is a passing drizzle,” he said.

He added that authorities must reconstruct effectivedrainage system as permanent solution to the problem.

“When will the SMC wake up from slumber to find permanentsolution to the problem?” asked another shopkeeper.

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