Rainfall exposes Baramulla’s drainage woes

Baramulla, Feb 27: Incessant rainfall across Baramulla has thrown normal life out of gear, inundating several areas and causing severe inconvenience to residents and traders.

Most parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday received considerable snow, especially in the upper reaches, where, at some places, over a foot of snow was recorded.

These areas include the upper belt of Rafiabad, Uri, and Kandi areas.

The plain areas of the district including Sopore and Baramulla town received snowfall from the afternoon.

The residents of Baramulla town as well as Pattan town were infuriated over the poor drainage maintenance, which worsened the situation for the locals as many roads and marketplaces remained waterlogged on Thursday.

The Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway near Women’s College Baramulla, R&B Road, Fish Market, and Azad Gunj Baramulla were among the worst-hit areas, where rainwater accumulated due to clogged drains.

As a result, shopkeepers had to face significant losses, with water entering their establishments.

“We are facing immense hardships,” said Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper near Women’s College Baramulla.

“This is not the first time our shops have been flooded. The administration’s silence over the issue has added to our suffering. The main cause of water logging is the poor drainage system here,” he said.

A similar situation prevails at Azad Gunj, where the main road is submerged, making it difficult for pedestrians and vehicles to move.

Locals expressed their frustration over the inaction of the authorities.

"Despite repeated complaints, no one listens to us. The rainwater has blocked access to many shops and ATMs,” said a resident of Azad Gunj Baramulla.

Other affected areas include the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway near Government Boys Degree College Khawajabagh, R&B Road, and Nanak Bhawan, where a major drain along the highway remains blocked.

In Pattan's main market, the poor drainage system has caused severe resentment among the locals.

The grieved residents, especially the businessmen of Pattan town said that the drainage system in the main market had collapsed long back.

They said that following little precipitation, the commuters are unable to walk along the main market in Pattan due to intense water logging.

“The drains here have been completely damaged. The rainwater often penetrates into the shops, causing immense hardships to the locals here,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper over the phone.

Baramulla Traders Federation President Tariq Ahmad Mughloo slammed the Municipal Council Baramulla for its alleged negligence in addressing the town’s drainage issues.

“The rains returned after a long dry spell. Why didn’t the municipal authorities clear the drains in advance or construct new ones where needed?” he said.