Heavy rains throw life out of gear in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 6: A heavy spell of rain on Monday brought life to a standstill in Srinagar as several areas across the city were waterlogged, besides, traffic came to a grinding halt.

Amid downpour, Srinagarites battled the familiar woes of an inadequate drainage system. From Downtown to Uptown, roads and residential areas witnessed waterlogging for hours as the rains exposed the poor drainage infrastructure. Pothole-ridden roads across the city turned into pools of muddy water, making vehicular movement risky and leaving pedestrians struggling to navigate through ankle-deep water.

“Every time it rains, our area turns into a cesspool. Water entered several lanes and courtyards, making it difficult for residents to even step outside. The drainage system here is either choked or non-existent,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Kadi Kadal in downtown Srinagar.

Commuters also had a tough time as waterlogging disrupted the smooth flow of traffic across major intersections. In addition to that, the long traffic jams were witnessed along Jahangir Chowk, Nowhatta, Nowpora, Khanyar, Hazratbal, Dalgate, Hawal, and other areas of Srinagar. There were massive traffic jams at Maulana Azad Road, Hari Singh High Street and Barzull, causing inconvenience to commuters.

“There were bumper-to-bumper traffic jams on the MA Road and adjoining areas.  The issue gets worse during the rains as people rush home quickly during peak hours. There is a major need for more traffic cops, especially in Downtown, “ a commuter stuck in a Traffic jam at Lal Chowk.

Locals said the continuous rainfall also pushed the mercury below normal, adding to the discomfort of those caught in the downpour. For two-wheeler riders, the combination of slippery roads and cold winds made the commute especially tough.

“The bad roads and traffic jams make it worse for two-wheeler riders. Today, there was a huge traffic jam amid the rains, and even two-wheelers were unable to navigate. The issues were accelerated by the potholes and waterlogging,” said Suhail Ahmad, A commuter.

Adding to the city’s misery, the rains coincided with the ongoing wedding season, disrupting several marriage functions across Srinagar. People who had arranged outdoor tents for guests found themselves drenched as rainwater seeped into makeshift accommodations.

“We had set up a tent for the guests in our lawn, but by evening, everything was drenched. The rain not only spoiled the arrangements but also caused huge inconvenience to guests. It’s been a nightmare.” Said Farooq Ahmad, a family head at Hazratbal.