Heavy rains cause waterlogging, traffic snarls in Srinagar

As rains continue to lash Valley since last evening, it has resulted into massive waterlogging in most parts of the Srinagar leading to traffic gridlocks.
Almost all the interior roads were inundated while people found it difficult to cross the roads in different areas. In some areas of the city people used boots to cross the waterlogged roads.
The commuters in Srinagar expressed their disappointment over authorities for not improving the drainage system in Srinagar which has been worsening from last several years creating water over-flow on the main roads. “The drainage system here is worst; a slight rainfall submerges all the roads which lead to traffic jams for hours together. It seems this problem will continue in Kashmir for many years as one travels through Srinagar the problem in everywhere,” said Basharat Hussain, a sumo driver.
The residents said that waterlogging completely blocks some roads and lanes making it impossible for people to walk. “People in Srinagar prefer to stay indoors in rains due to the problem of ailing drains and bad roads. The city is face of Kashmir and nothing is being done to improve its infrastructure,” said a private employee, Jahangir Hassan.
The traders said that from more than a year they were continuously pleading authorities to repair the drainage in Magarmal Bagh and Saraibal areas but nothing was done.
In the commercial hub and City’s nerve centre, Lal Chowk from Residency road to Regal Chowk and Polo view the condition is no better, the roads were filled with muddy water and drains were overflowing.
The condition is no better in areas like Amira Kadal, Badshah Chowk and Jahangir Chowk where due to improper drainage system the people are facing inconvenience.
In addition to the city roads, the roads connecting the hospital are also submerged and the patients are suffering.
Hospitals including Bone & Joint (B&J) in Barzulla, SMHS (Shri Mahraja Hari Singh) in Karan Nagar, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences( SKIMS) in Bemina, LD (Lal Ded) are in big trouble as the roads connecting hospitals and its compounds are waterlogged.
“Authorities can’t afford timely dewatering in this hospital, what we can expect them to do now,” said a patient at LD Hospital.
An SMC official said that a big drainage project work in these areas particularly Jahangir Chowk and adjoining localities was going on which will be completed soon.
He added that they have started dewatering at crucial places in city and will continue so.
Other officials from department of PWD and R&B denied divulging any details issue.