Scattered Rains Cause Traffic Chaos in Gurugram, Waterlogging on Major Roads

Gurugram, Haryana (Sarhind Times) – August 6, 2024

Three spells of scattered rain on Thursday provided relief from the sweltering heat but wreaked havoc on Gurugram’s roads, causing significant traffic snarls. Key arterial roads, including Narsinghpur, Golf Course Extension Road, Basai Road, and Khandsa, were waterlogged during rush hours, slowing down commuters on their way to work and back.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the first spell of rain began at 2 AM, picking up intensity around 4 AM and continuing for an hour and a half. By 8:30 AM, the city had recorded 36.4 mm of rainfall. The weather alternated between brief periods of blue skies and sporadic showers, with additional rainfall occurring in the afternoon and evening.

Despite the dip in maximum temperature to 31.6 degrees Celsius from Wednesday’s 31.8 degrees Celsius, the rains led to widespread traffic disruptions. Monika Bharadwaj, a resident of Sector 43 who commutes daily to Manesar, expressed her frustration. “I have been living here for five years, but the situation is the same during every rainy season. This is why I left early for work but still got late. I don’t know when the city will really become a Millennium City,” Bharadwaj lamented.

A traffic police officer reported that vehicular movement was slow in the morning due to waterlogging. However, police and civic authorities were alerted to clear the flooded areas. “Adequate manpower was deployed on the ground to ensure smooth movement of traffic,” a police spokesperson said.

The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) took quick action to clear waterlogged roads. “A tractor-mounted pump set was installed at Narsinghpur, Rajeev Chowk, and Khandsa Chowk to pump out water quickly. Road gullies and chutes, which were blocked, were cleared by the staff,” a GMDA official stated.

The IMD has forecast light rainfall for another 24 hours, with showers expected to intensify over the weekend. A ‘yellow’ alert has been issued for heavy rainfall on Saturday, with fairly widespread rainfall likely to continue for the next three days.

The city’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category with an AQI of 81. In Delhi, some parts also experienced light rain, with Safdarjung and Lodhi Road recording 2.8 mm and 2.7 mm of rainfall, respectively.

As the monsoon trough oscillates, residents are advised to brace for more rain and potential waterlogging in the coming days.