Ludhiana: Municipal authorities have identified 143 low-lying zones across the city plagued by chronic flooding, admitting that local infrastructure cannot prevent inundation but can hopefully accelerate drainage.For lakhs of commuters and residents, the daily journey to work is about to become a battle against stagnant, debris-choked floodwaters. With the rainy season weeks away, they face the prospect of roads submerged for up to 10 hours at a time.Internal audits reveal the city’s defensive infrastructure is already failing; major subterranean sewer lines are up to 90% choked with silt and debris. Civic officials are deploying emergency crews to clear the blockages using super-suction machinery, while workers install additional water gulleys to expedite runoff.Long-term proposals include installing dedicated storm-water systems to separate rainfall from the heavily burdened sewerage network. The crisis has already spilled over into the political arena. Following a brief summer shower on Monday that left major roads under water, former councillor Parminder Mehta launched a blistering critique of the civic body’s preparedness.“If the city is struggling in summer showers, it will surely drown in the monsoon,” Mehta said. He warned that the brief deluge had already exposed systemic failures, despite official directives ordering a comprehensive clean-up of road grates and drainage systems.Mehta also flagged critical negligence along the Buddha Dariya waterway, noting that uncollected garbage on the banks threatens to trigger severe upstream and downstream flooding. He called for disciplinary action against senior bureaucrats delaying the cleanup.For local commuters and residents, the anxiety is mounting. “Even mild rain leaves the main road stagnant, and it has been this way for years,” said Shivpuri resident Richa Sharma. “The coming rainy season is going to be a testing time for everyone trying to get to work.”
