Panaji: A brief but intense spell of rain on Sunday evening inundated several parts of Panaji, with the busy 18 June Road bearing the brunt as floodwaters entered ground-floor commercial establishments and disrupted traffic during peak evening hours.According to rainfall data shared by the India Meteorological Department, Panaji received 51mm of rain between 8.30am and 8.30pm on Sunday, of which 41.8mm was in just three hours between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, overwhelming the city’s drainage system and leading to temporary flooding.The 18 June Road, one of the state capital’s busiest commercial streets, was submerged under several inches of water, forcing motorists to slow down while pedestrians waded through the inundated stretch. Water also entered a number of shops located at road level, prompting business owners and staff to scramble to prevent damage to merchandise.The waterlogging resulted in traffic snarls along the stretch, which serves as a key arterial road and is regularly used by Kadamba Transport Corporation’s electric buses as well as private vehicles and food delivery riders.The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) workers were seen on site throughout the evening attempting to facilitate the flow of rainwater by clearing drains and ensuring gutters remained unobstructed despite the challenging conditions.Municipal workers attributed the temporary flooding to the coincidence of the intense rainfall with the evening’s high tide, which restricted the discharge of stormwater into the outfalls and slowed drainage from the city’s low-lying areas.The flooding, however, proved to be short-lived. As the rainfall eased after about 30 minutes, water levels receded quickly and normal traffic movement gradually resumed.
