Ludhiana: With the monsoon setting in, residents living along the seasonal drain between Shingaar Cinema disposal bridge and Dhoka Mohalla bridge are worried about flooding, as the project to cover the drain remains incomplete. Several residents have constructed walls outside their homes and at the street entrances to prevent drain water from entering residential areas.The drain-covering project has been incomplete for a long time. Only part of the drain has been covered so far. The drain empties into the Buddha Dariya, which, residents say, routinely floods over during heavy rain.Fearing that this year may be no different, residents of Ranjit Singh Park recently built protective walls at the entrances of three streets located along the drain. According to them, drain water often rises to the same level as the road during the rainy season, making it easy for water and sludge to enter residential areas. The inflow of dirty water causes inconvenience and health concerns. Last year, several lanes were submerged and thick layers of sludge remained for days after the water receded.Similar preventive measures have been adopted by residents of Dhoka Mohalla, where many households have constructed small walls inside their homes to stop filthy water from entering. Despite these efforts, residents say they continue to face the same ordeal every monsoon.Gagandeep Singh, a resident of the area, said the recurring flooding problem has forced many families to alter their living arrangements. “Because of this issue, some residents have shifted to the upper floors of their houses while others have left the locality altogether. We do not have that option, so we constructed a wall to stop the drain water from entering our street,” he said.Another resident, Vimal Kumar, said the delay in completing the drain-covering project has added to the concerns of people living nearby. “For most residents, monsoon season is enjoyable, but for us it means anxiety and hardship. Only half of the work has been completed so far and people continue to live under the constant threat of flooding,” he said.Local leader Manga Sharma alleged that residents of several localities have been suffering for years due to the problem. He said areas such as Dhoka Mohalla, Dharampura, Ranjit Singh Park, Shivaji Nagar and New Shivaji Nagar are among the worst affected.“For the past four years, drain water has been entering streets and houses during heavy rains. People have suffered health issues and household belongings, including furniture, have been damaged. Every year, leaders visit after the flooding and announce compensation, but the problem remains unresolved,” he said. He added that pumps would be arranged to remove water if flooding occurs again this season.MC officials acknowledged the concerns and said efforts were being made to prevent flooding. However, an official maintained that constructing walls was not a permanent solution. “We are taking measures to avoid such situations, but these walls will not be able to withstand severe flooding. A long-term solution is needed,” the official said.Meanwhile, commuters continued to face difficulties on Jagraon Bridge, where potholes became more hazardous after the rainfall. Water accumulated on the road surface, making it difficult for motorists to identify damaged portions. Several vehicles, particularly e-rickshaws, reportedly overturned after hitting water-filled potholes. Residents blamed the problem on the delay in completion of road construction work linked to the elevated road project.
