Downpour leaves Amritsar roads waterlogged, residents suffer

Heavy rain brought the city to a near standstill with almost all the roads getting waterlogged. From the inner streets to elite neighbourhoods, waterlogged roads and overflowing drains turned daily commuting into a challenge. The situation was particularly dire at the iconic Heritage Street, a major attraction for visiting tourists, which resembled a pond.

Despite repeated claims of de-silting and drain-cleaning by the municipal corporation, road gully chambers remained uncleared before the rains, reportedly due to a shortage of funds. As a result, rainwater overcame the city’s drainage capacity, and several sewer manholes were seen overflowing. The failure of the sanitary sewer system to drain rainwater further worsened the flooding, especially in low-lying areas.

Tourists from various parts of the country had a hard time navigating flooded pathways. The Heritage Street, usually bustling with foot traffic, became nearly impassable for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, with many forced to wade through knee-deep water. Several upscale and densely populated areas, including Batala Road, Majitha Road, Madan Mohan Malviya Road, Taylor Road, Railway Road, Link Road, Basant Avenue, Prince Avenue, Lawrence Road, New Amritsar, Sultanwind Road, Narayan Garh, Mall Road and Ranjit Avenue, experienced severe waterlogging.

Despite the deployment of nodal officers to oversee drainage in key areas, there has been no lasting solution to the recurring problem. According to residents, in several wards, either new gully chambers are required or the existing ones have not been cleaned for months.

Naveen Kumar, a local resident who visited the Company Bagh for an evening walk, shared, “The internal paths and lawns of the garden were completely submerged. The situation in Kartar Nagar and along Cheharta Road was also dismal, with stagnant water remaining long after the rain had stopped.”

Though MC authorities claim that the de-silting work has been carried out in all constituencies and that water now drains within two to three hours, locals contest these claims. Many allege that super sucker machines, used to clean sewers, have not been seen in several areas for over six months.

Most parts of the city still rely solely on the overburdened sanitary sewer system, causing repeated overflows. The lack of road patchwork has further worsened the issue as uneven surfaces trap water, increasing the risk of accidents. Power outages added to chaos. In several parts of the city, including the City Circle and Sub-Urban Circle, electricity supply was cut for durations ranging from one to four hours.

Amritsar