Half- Hour downpour exposes poor drainage, causes severe waterlogging in key areas of Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, August 23: The sudden downpour on Friday afternoon, with the rain intensifying over the course of just half an hour highlighted the inadequate drainage system in the city leading to waterlogging at several locations. The downpour caused major disruptions, turning parts of the city into virtual ponds and bringing traffic to a standstill.

Key areas affected included the Sitaramdera Howrah Bridge, the Jugsalai Railway Crossing, the Tata pigments Railway Underpass and the Tatanagar Station Chaibasa Bus stand.

Vehicles were seen struggling to navigate through the flooded streets with two-wheeler riders were hesitant to cross fearing that the water would seep into their engines. Larger vehicles managed to pass through but with difficulty.

In particular, the underpass near Jugsalai with water accumulation made it nearly impossible for vehicles to pass through without stalling. The area near the Awadh Dental College on NH-33 was heavily impacted as water cascading from nearby hills failed to drain properly due to blocked and encroached drainage channels. The water reached knee level severely disrupting the movement of vehicles and causing long traffic jams.

Local residents expressed their concerns highlighting the need for urgent action. The residents remarked that the waterlogging has been a recurring issue and despite making repeated complaints no action has been taken to clear encroachments on the drainage channels.

Residents are demanding immediate action to remove encroachments and ensure that the drainage system is capable of handling rains especially as the monsoon season progresses. With more rain expected in the coming weeks, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The city’s infrastructure particularly the drainage system is in dire need of improvement to prevent further disruptions and potential accidents by waterlogging.