Mohali: The season’s first major monsoon downpour turned into a nightmare for residents of Mohali and nearby towns, as ankle- to knee-deep water flooded homes overnight, exposing glaring deficiencies in the region’s stormwater drainage infrastructure.Heavy rainfall that began late Saturday evening continued through the night, inundating several areas including phases 3B2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and sectors 70 and 71. In these low-lying areas, water surged into homes, forcing residents to spend the night with flooded floors and soaked furniture. In some places, fire tenders had to be called in to pump out water from roads and residential streets.“Water started entering the houses around 10pm. We couldn’t even pump it out in the incessant rainfall. We had no choice but to sleep in ankle-deep water,” Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Phase 4, said. While water pumps were deployed in various areas, residents complained that they were poorly positioned, resulting in water being pumped out of one area only to flood another. Streets in the Industrial Area Phases 7 and 8 resembled streams, with over a foot of water accumulating and causing traffic snarls.“We surveyed the entire city four months ago and identified major faults in the stormwater system. We need Rs 200 crore to implement the solution, but the state govt has yet to clear our proposal,” admitted mayor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu.Revealing that the survey recommended diverting rainwater to seasonal rivulets (choes) near Balongi, Lakhnaur, YPS, and Kambali, he said, “Until funds are released, we’re helpless”.Deputy mayor Kuljeet Singh Bedi highlighted that ongoing airport road construction worsened the issue. “Every monsoon, residents live in fear. If homes are getting flooded in central sectors like 70 and 71, it speaks volumes about our preparedness,” he said.With more rain predicted in the coming days, residents are demanding urgent measures to prevent further waterlogging. “Flooding isn’t new — it happens every year. But this level of apathy is unacceptable,” Manpreet Singh, a resident of Sector 71, said. As the water recedes and cleanup begins, residents remain skeptical about whether authorities will take long-term measures or continue with temporary firefighting every monsoon season.
