GURGAON: With another spell of intense rain forecast, the district administration on Saturday advised residents to avoid non-essential travel and stay away from waterlogged roads, underpasses and low-lying areas.The advisory, issued by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Gurgaon, followed an IMD nowcast warning issued at 10.38am, forecasting heavy rainfall of more than 15mm an hour over the next two to three hours, accompanied by moderate thunderstorms and gusty winds.The administration asked commuters not to attempt to cross flooded stretches and warned people to stay away from trees, electric poles and overhead wires during the storm. It also directed all concerned departments and emergency response agencies to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.The latest warning comes barely 12 days after heavy rain exposed the city’s vulnerability to intense downpours. On August 24, around 70mm of rain had fallen by 1.30pm, triggering widespread waterlogging at Narsinghpur, Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk and several parts of old Gurgaon. Traffic crawled on key routes, while school buses and ambulances were among the vehicles caught in the flooding. A section of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway near Cyber Hub was also submerged.The disruption was particularly severe around Subhash Chowk, where at least 12 school buses were reported to have been stuck for more than two hours, leaving children stranded as parents struggled to reach them. The day’s rain eventually prompted the administration to advise corporate offices and educational institutions to shift to work-from-home arrangements and online classes the following day to reduce traffic and allow civic agencies to clear roads and drains.Against this backdrop, Saturday’s advisory puts the onus on residents to minimise movement during the predicted spell. The DDMA has circulated the warning to the GMDA, Gurgaon Police, MCG, traffic police and education authorities for necessary action and wider dissemination.For commuters, the immediate concern remains waterlogging at vulnerable stretches, where even a short but intense spell can quickly lead to traffic bottlenecks and stranded vehicles.
