Lucknow turns into a huge ‘water body’
MISERY ON THE ROADS Streets inundated, commuters stuck in jams and water enters houses, establishments
LUCKNOW: Heavy rain on Monday turned Lucknow into a huge water body with drain and rainwater entering houses and other establishments in low-lying areas. Heavy showers, from 6 am to 12 pm, and then throughout the evening, left most of the localities and roads inundated, throwing normal life out of gear.
The low-pressure area prevailing over Uttar Pradesh resulted into 27.4 mm rain in the state capital.
Water-logging was a common sight in prime areas including Hazratganj, Park Road, Gomti Nagar, Alambagh and Mahanagar.
At Riverbank colony, many vehicles were damaged as trees fell over them.
The downpour washed away the LMC’s tall claims of having a clean and smooth drainage system.
People were found wading through waist-deep water in many areas and traffic jams compounded the common man’s miseries.
Small wonder, people said the rainfall was less of a boon and more of a bane for them.
On Monday morning, Lucknowites woke up to rain which, unlike previous ones, was brisk and constant. Soon after, the roads became inundated causing incidents like road cave-in and wall collapse.
Panic prevailed near Bapu Bhawan after a portion of the prime road in front of Bapu Bhawan caved in, following waterlogging.
“It was a scary moment when a part of the road caved in, giving jitters to commuters who were caught in a traffic jam,” said Vishnu Sharma, a shop owner.
There was heavy water-logging on Park Road near Civil Hospital, on Meerabai Marg, in Hussainabad, Khadra, Nishatganj, Aliganj, and Golaganj. People slammed the LMC for its apathetic attitude towards the city’s infrastructure.
“Cleaning of manholes and desilting ahead of monsoon seems to be an eyewash as roads are still submerged in water. The government should fix responsibility and fine the officials concerned,” said Mohammed Junaid, a college-goer.
Another commuter flayed the state government for paying no heed to the city’s basic infrastructure. “Talks are on to develop Lucknow as a smart city but the reality is very different. There are hardly any cops to ease the traffic,” said Prakash Jha, a commuter caught in a jam near Bapu Bhawan.
Things were equally bad in the VVIP localities. In Gomti Nagar, a low-lying area, the house of minister Jay Kumar Jackie was water logged. The road leading to the minister’s house was under knee-deep water that also entered the premises of his house. The road from Cinepolis to Madhurima and from Picup Bhawan to Kathauta chauraha was also inundated.
Similarly, Indira Nagar, another lowlying area, was also waterlogged, with people wading through knee-deep water. In A block, B block and Sector 9, water entered houses, spoiling household goods worth lakhs.
“Rain has spoiled my household goods worth lakhs. I am clueless about how to tackle the situation,” said SP Singh, a resident of B Block, Indira Nagar.
Nahid Lari Khan, former member UP Child Rights Commission, posted photographs of a lane in Golaganj where water was up to chest level. “People were in trouble. I spoke to the DM and the administration team reached the spot and drained out the water,” she wrote.
She said this situation was not restricted to Golaganj, similar was the scene at Moulviganj, Wazirganj, River Bank Colony, Judges Compound. “If this was the situation in Lucknow, one can imagine how miserable life will be in vil- lages and remote areas of the state,” she added.
“This has happened for the first time in 40 years. The water level is really very high,” said Khan. She appealed to people to help those who are stuck in water.
The downpour caused water-logging in the Surendra Nagar area also. Students going to school either skipped their classes or reached late due to waterlogged roads.
Residents had a tough time as the water entered some houses. Some residents also complained of choked gutters and said the corporator did nothing to ensure cleanliness and prevent waterlogging in the area.
Driving through water-logged roads was difficult for commuters.
“Just managed to drive through waistdeep water in Vivek Khand, Gomti Nagar. But the car finally broke down on our way back home. What an ordeal,” wrote Seema Katiyar, a teacher of an all-girls degree college on facebook.
Upma Chaturvedi, principal of Avadh Girls’ Degree College, wrote on facebook, “Massive water-logging. Can’t even step out of the house, unable to take my car out. I have to take leave unnecessarily.