Waterlogging hits normal life in Srinagar

People suffer, authorities in ”Slumber”

Life in the summer capital was thrown out of gear on Sunday as rains and snow led to water-logging of several areas causing immense inconvenience to commuters.
Massive water-logging was witnessed at Parraypora, Rambagh, LD Hospital, TRC Junction, Regal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk and Sonwar resulting in slowing down of traffic.
The problem was compounded due to slippery roads brought down speed of vehicles to almost 20 kmph leading to traffic snarls at various places.
Inhabitants of Jawahar Nagar said water entered compound of several houses. “The dewatering station of SMC has not been operational in our area which has increased the level of water on road. It is difficult to even move outside our houses,” said Javed Iqbal, a Jawahar Nagar resident.
Inhabitants of Hilalabad Arampora in Qamarwari, Abu Bakar Colony and Nund Resh Colony in Bemina also complained that poor drainage system has compounded their problems.
Tariq Rehman, a resident of Hilalabad said huge waterlogging in the area was caused due to chocked drainage.
“The debris from a demolition drive in the area has clogged the drainage system and now the snow and rains have made matters worse as our area is inundated” Rehman said.
Inhabitants of Umerabad, Mustafabad in Zainakote, Maisuma, Indira Nagar, Iqbal Colony Sonwar, Aloocha Bagh, Shivpora, Rainawari, Soura also complained of severe water logging.
Inhabitants of Indira Nagar said interior roads and bylanes are inundated in knee deep rain water.
“Students and patients are bearing brunt of waterlogging. The Cantonment Board is in slumber. We hope district administration will intervene to ensure running of dewatering pumps. UEED had long back invited tenders for drainage system in our area but nothing concrete happened on ground,” said the aggrieved residents of Indira Nagar.
Inhabitants of Habba Kadal, Barbar Shah, Khanyar, Zainakadal, Noorbagh also complained of waterlogging.
President, Shaher-e-Khaas Traders Federation, Nazir Ahmad Shah said snow clearance has been sloppy in the old city.
“No snow clearance machines were visible in most of the Shaher-e-Khaas which has added to the traffic jams,” Shah said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director, Fire and Emergency Services, M A Dar said fire tenders for dewatering were used by the department near State Bank of India on Residency Road, Hari Singh High Street, Regal Chowk and JVC. “By the end of the day we also pressed into service fire tenders at Tulsi Bagh, Wazir Bagh and Jawahar Nagar for dewatering,” Dar said.
However, most of the areas were neglected by the authorities where more than ankle deep water made life miserable for the people. Inhabitants of Mominabad, Firdousabad Tengpora said even a moderate rainfall leaves these areas waterlogged.
Chief Sanitation Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Manzoor Ahmad Turray said 75 permanent dewatering stations were operational since morning.
“Mobile pumps were also pressed into service for dewatering,” Turray said. However, Turray said many SMC officials “were busy” with Swachh Suvkevshan-2017 city rankings which is taking place in the summer capital at present.
Meanwhile, a Chinar trunk that fell in the morning hours near the Jawahar Nagar bund lead to traffic jams in the area.
“I was stuck in traffic for almost 15 minutes near the bund after which I had to take the alternate Solina route which was more time consuming due to more traffic,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a commuter.
The falling of the Chinar trunk prompted authorities to divert traffic from Rambagh towards Lal Chowk via Gogji Bagh. The movement of traffic between Rambagh and Jehangir Chowk via Solina caused huge traffic jams.
IG Traffic, Shafqat A Watali said traffic department was “compelled to change the usual route.” “The Rambagh diversion on Sunday was due to falling of Chinar truck. We were compelled to change the normal route. Massive water-logging on vital roads compounded traffic jams,” Watali said.