GURGAON: Union Minister of State and Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh on Wednesday met Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini and discussed the recurring waterlogging problem in Gurgaon.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Singh said, “It (waterlogging) has become a perennial issue for Gurgaon. Every year waterlogging happens. I met the CM over this issue. Explanation will be sought from concerned officials, and concrete actions have to be taken.“The Union minister blamed unchecked urban development for worsening the problem.“In the last 20 years, builders have illegally developed colonies over natural drains. We can’t remove these colonies now. I have suggested the CM to provide sufficient funds to make arrangements for smooth flow of perennial nullahs,” he said.Singh said the issue requires immediate attention and that steps must be taken to ensure proper drainage and prevent waterlogging in the city.Gurgaon’s struggle with waterlogging worsened on Tuesday as intermittent rainfall throughout the day, followed by a heavy spell in the evening, left large parts of the city inundated. The city had little time to drain out water accumulated after intense showers on Monday, leading to severe traffic disruptions and fresh flooding across key stretches.Following an advisory issued by the district administration, schools conducted online classes while several private companies asked employees to work from home.The rain also exposed concerns over the city’s infrastructure, with road cave-ins reported at two locations. The incidents trapped the tyres of heavy vehicles and once again raised questions about the condition of roads and the drainage network.Despite being Haryana’s highest revenue-generating city, Gurgaon continues to grapple with recurring monsoon-related problems. Authorities have installed 408 rainwater harvesting systems across municipal corporation areas, yet waterlogging remains a persistent issue.Around 70 mm of rainfall recorded within 35 minutes submerged several major roads and underpasses. At Subhash Chowk, nearly 15 vehicles, including nine school buses, were stranded in waterlogged conditions. More than 300 schoolchildren remained trapped inside the buses for almost two hours.In another incident, a section of a service lane along the Delhi-Jaipur highway caved in near IFFCO Chowk, creating a large pit. Officials said a team from the Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) rushed to the site after receiving reports.A senior official said a preliminary investigation indicated that leakage from a GMDA sewer line washed away the soil beneath the road, causing the surface to collapse. Barricades have been placed around the affected area to prevent accidents.As the service lane falls under the Delhi-Jaipur highway, repair work will be carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) after the sewer line leak is repaired.For now, the stretch has been closed to motorists while GMDA teams continue repair work on the damaged sewer line.Meanwhile, videos showing flooded roads and massive traffic snarls have flooded social media platforms.One widely shared video shows a young girl stranded in heavy rain and crying.Another clip that drew widespread attention shows a man sitting on the roof of a stranded cab and working on his laptop while the vehicle remained stuck in a waterlogged street.As residents continued to battle waterlogging, social media users expressed frustration over the city’s recurring monsoon troubles.“I moved from Delhi to Gurgaon 15 years ago. Now, it feels like only my PIN code has changed,” an X user wrote — drawing a parallel with persistent waterlogging in parts of Delhi.Prerna, a marketing consultant, had a request for the prime minister. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, fire the Gurgaon government,” she wrote on X.In a snide remark, actor-writer Suhel Seth said it was very wrong to criticise the waterlogging situation in Gurgaon. “The Venice Biennale took place recently, and chief minister Nayab Saini has a strong desire for us to have a similar experience. Please think positively. Always view the glass as half-full, not half-empty,” he wrote on X.Other X users were more direct. “In the quest of becoming a ‘Vishwaguru’, we have failed to do anything for the children. These children deserve better facilities. They live in a city where apartments sell for over Rs 100 crore, yet basic amenities are unavailable. Gurgaon is a failed city,” one said.Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala also criticised the Haryana government over the situation.In a post on X, Surjewala unleased a tirade of criticism at the BJP government: “Gurgaon infra has ‘collapsed’, waterlogged and jammed roads, advisory is to ‘work from home’. Nayab Saini and BJP govt’s delivery-school buses stranded, roads and streets flooded, people getting electrocuted, govt and administration missing, chaos prevails, fend for yourself and Rs 1,400 crore spent, zero result. This is the Millenium City Gurgaon!”(With Agency Inputs)
