Ggm’s answer to flood woes: Work from home
GURUGRAM: Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms on Monday caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, including the Narsinghpur stretch on the Delhi-gurgaon Expressway, eventually leading to the state administration advising private offices to use a popular Covid-19 measure — work from home, or WFH — rather than try to negotiate the city roads.
Traffic congestion was reported from different stretches, prompting the police to deploy at least 2,500 personnel at key locations to manage traffic.
According to the authorities, Gurugram received 73.4mm rain in the last 24 hours (till 8.30am on Monday)--the highest recorded rainfall across Haryana on Monday. Gurugram is expected to receive more rain in the next 24 hours too, said India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, adding that the western disturbance over the region would shift away from Gurugram in two or three days, but temperature would remain low for the next four or five days.
The Gurugram traffic police started issuing alerts on social media from 8am, asking commuters to avoid certain stretches due to heavy waterlogging. These include the Signature Tower Road, Iffco Chowk, Sheetla Mata Road, CH Bakhtawar Singh Road, the Sector 21/22 crossing, near Kherki Daula toll, Nathupur, Bilaspur Chowk, Sector 12 Chowk, Mayfield Gardens traffic signal, near Good Earth Mall, below the Guru Dronacharya Metro station, the Mini Secretariat, Hamilton Court Road, Basai Road, Z Chowk near Huda City Centre, Narsinghpur, and Ram Chowk. Areas below the Iffco Chowk flyover and
Metro station remained waterlogged till late afternoon.
Admin’s advisory
Nishant Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner (DC), Gurugram issued an advisory to private institutions and corporate offices to allow their employees to work from home.
“This will also help civic agencies to take up dewatering and repair works expeditiously. It is advisable that companies should ensure that as many employees as possible work from home in such a situation. This won’t be possible for industries and the manufacturing sector, but should be followed wherever possible,” he said.
The Gurugram traffic police also asked residents to “consider exercising the option to work from home.”
“We do not have that option, but those who do, may consider exercising the option to work from home. Meanwhile, Gurgaon Police is on the roads to assist you,” the department tweeted with images of officials helping commuters stranded in several waterlogged areas.