Noida: The Thursday morning showers exposed several persistent infrastructural shortcomings across Noida with issues of rainwater entering residential houses in Sector 19, electric pole collapses in Sector 63 and a drain cover caving in near Sector Gamma 1 being reported by several residents.Office-goers from Gaur City 2 and Cleo County in Sector 122 said their morning commute was extended by the flooded Gaur City underpass. “Before the monsoon, we were stuck in traffic jams because of underpass construction work. Now, the waterlogged road has added to the problem. It seems like a year-long problem now. It does not feel like Noida is a planned city,” said Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Gaur City 2.Some locals said waterlogging was made worse because the annual practice of cleaning drains before the monsoon did not take place this year.In Sector 19, rainwater not only flooded the roads but also seeped into houses, raising concerns of sanitation. “Renovation work of drains in this sector was done two years ago at a cost of Rs 12 crore. It was expected to solve the drainwater backflow issue. But the problem has only aggravated,” said RC Gupta, the RWA president.Locals of Behlolpur in Sector 63 said at least three electric poles collapsed in the area after the rain. Sonu Yadav, a resident of the village, told TOI, “Electrocution is very common here during the monsoon. Waterlogging is also a persistent issue here. Around 12,000 people live in the village. We advise people to step out only if absolutely necessary during such times.”In Greater Noida, a drain cover between Sector Gamma 1 and Beta 1 caved in, leaving behind a hole that could be an accident risk. Several accidents of cars and people falling into exposed drains have been reported from across the region in recent times.In the commercial areas of Greater Noida, rain paralysed the day-to-day working of several important industries. President of Industrial Business Association Amit Upadhyay said there was heavy waterlogging around Ecotech III. “Water is entering factories, damaging raw materials and finished goods, disrupting production, and preventing employees and workers from reaching their workplaces. The severity of the issue shows that not enough measures were taken before monsoon to prevent waterlogging. ,” he said.Aditya Bhati, an advocate at the district court, said the situation was similar in Surajpur. “All key offices in the vicinity of the GB Nagar district court are located near Surajpur. Lawyers, judges are being forced to wade through knee-deep water to reach their offices.”He said the bar association has relaxed attendance criteria as many are unable to reach the courts.“The question now arises: If the rains do not cease, will court operations remain stalled for months?” Bhati said.In other parts, disruptions in water supply and power supply were also reported.
Several vehicles, including a school bus, broke down because of waterlogging in Greater Noida
RWA general secretary of Shatabdi Vihar in Sector 52, Misha Singh, expressed frustration over prolonged power outage and the resulting water shortage. “We have witnessed the worst power cuts in the recent months, leaving us without electricity and consequently hampering water supply,” she said.Sanjeev Kumar Pal of Shri Krishna Apartments in Sector 117 said they too were left without water for a long time. “Our water tanks are empty and despite multiple complaints to the officials concerned, we have not received any resolution,” he said.Singh also said regular garbage collection was not taking place in Sector 52. She said they had received an official communication announcing that garbage would not be collected due to rain-related issues. “Is this how an industrial area is planned?” she asked.In Sector 51, Sanjeev Kumar said several vehicles broke down due to severe waterlogging on the road dividing Sectors 57 and 58 and residents were forced to navigate through knee-deep sludge. “Had the drains been cleaned effectively in advance, we could have avoided this situation,” he said.Residents urged for action from the Noida Authority stating that issues of power failures, inadequate drainage systems, and disrupted water supply must be prioritised, especially during the monsoon season when the situation becomes increasingly critical.Nikhil Singhal, president of the Noida HighRise Federation 100x Sectors, met officer on special duty of Noida Authority, Indu Prakash, to discuss the issues residents were facing in several sectors. During the meeting, he asked for a personal inspection of the most affected areas.In response, Prakash said a budget has been allocated for cleaning and strengthening of drainage networks and work is progressing. He noted that improper disposal of waste is a major cause of waterlogging and urged residents to dispose of waste responsibly. Additionally, he recommended that apartment owners’ associations ensure the maintenance of rainwater harvesting pits and internal drainage systems to prevent flooding on interior roads.
