1st heavy rain leaves Kashi inundated
Waterlogging was reported from various locations including the Godaulia, Girijaghar and Maidagini intersections
VARANASI: The city was lashed by heavy rain on Thursday exposing the laxity on the part of Varanasi Nagar Nigam officials as the rain caused water logging in over two dozen locations inconveniencing commuters.
Water-logging was reported from various locations including the Godaulia, Girijaghar intersection, Maidagini intersection, roads in the Madhauli area and various other roads of the district.
It started raining in Varanasi at daybreak and continued till evening.
Mahesh Kumar, a resident of the Godaulia area said that the drains should have been cleaned by the sanitation department of Nagar Nigam before the arrival of rains. But the drain cleaning has been done only in some areas. The first heavy rain exposed the laxity of Nagar Nigam in getting the drains cleaned.
Chhote Lal Yadav, another resident said that the police booth at the Girijaghar intersection was waterlogged. Many bike riders had to drag their bikes to homes because their vehicles’ turned off after water entered the engine of their vehicles.
Congress leader Shailendra Singh said that tall claims were made six years ago that Varanasi will be made the smart city and will be equipped with smart facilities. “Even the sewage system of the city could not be made smart in the six years, let alone the city. Water-logging on the city roads in first rain tells everything. There was kneedeep water on various roads,” he said.
Singh added that the promise remains a promise.
A senior official at VNN Sandip Srivastava said that this year the monsoon has come earlier. The drain cleaning work has already been started and several teams have been deployed for the same. However, cleaning of drains and sewer lines in various areas of the city have already been done by the sanitation teams, he said.
A SENIOR OFFICIAL AT VNN SAID THAT THE MONSOON HAS COME EARLY. DRAIN-CLEANING WORK IS UNDERWAY AND SEVERAL TEAMS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED FOR IT