Incessant rain that lashed the city on Monday provided relief to the residents from sultry weather with a dip of eight degrees in the temperature.
Punjab Agricultural University’s (PAU) school of climate change and agricultural meteorology recorded 59 mm rain during the day.
The maximum and minimum temperatures hovered around 31.8°C and 30.4°C, while the morning and evening relative humidity settled at 67% and 87%. The maximum temperature was recorded at 39°C on Sunday.
Rain that continued for at least two hours led to a flood-like situation on many city roads and streets due to clogged drains. Water accumulated in city roads and the southern bypass underpasses caused inconvenience to the commuters.
PAU assistant agro meteorologist KK Gill said, “Weather is expected to remain cloudy with possibility of thundery development and light rain in Ludhiana and its adjoining areas during the next 24 hours.”
She said, “The monsoon will most likely reach the city within couple of days.”
GANDA NULLAH OVERFLOWS
Meanwhile, the downpour brought the lives of Hargobind Nagar and nearby area residents to a standstill, as dirty water overflowing from the Ganda Nullah entered into 200 houses.
The locals alleged that the situation had arisen as the MC had failed to ensure timely cleaning of the Ganda Nullah. The water of the nullah had been flowing on to the road level for past some days, they claimed.
{{/usCountry}}The locals alleged that the situation had arisen as the MC had failed to ensure timely cleaning of the Ganda Nullah. The water of the nullah had been flowing on to the road level for past some days, they claimed.
{{/usCountry}}Ward 39 councillor Sanjay Talwar said, “Insanitary conditions have prevailed in the area that may lead to a disease outbreak anytime. The dirty water has damaged household articles and furniture, besides choking the sewerage system in the area. Now, residents have no provision of safe drinking water, as there is risk of mixing of nullah’s water with the water supply line.”
Talwar said he had recently raised the issue of Ganda Nullah with the MC authorities requesting them to take immediate steps to prevent such situation. Learning no lesson from the past incidents, the MC authorities had once again failed to provide any solution to the problem, he added.
“We kept calling the municipal corporation (MC) officials, but they reached the spot three hours later,” he said.
Local resident Sukhwant Singh said, “It is not for the first time that dirty water overflowing from the nullah has entered the area. Residents have written several letters to the government raising this issue, but to no avail. The MC has never paid attention to redress our problems. The dirty water is damaging our houses.”
The project to cover the Ganda Nullah was started six years back, but it still remains incomplete. Earlier, the residents of Hargobind Nagar and adjoining areas had written to the central government to provide relief from Ganda Nullah as the civic body had been ignoring their demands.
Besides, the problem of choked sewer at Maharishi Valmiki Nagar created trouble for the residents after the shower on Monday. The residents have demanded the Ludhiana Improvement Trust and municipal corporation to repair the sewer system.