Gurugram Submerged: 74mm Rainfall Triggers Chaos, Sparks Civic Outrage
Gurugram woke up to waterlogged streets and civic breakdown on Sunday after a heavy pre-monsoon spell on Saturday night drenched the city with 74mm of rain. The overnight downpour not only disrupted traffic but also highlighted deep-rooted issues in the city’s drainage and civic infrastructure, leaving residents in several sectors stranded and angry.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall triggered a sharp seven-degree drop in temperature. The maximum temperature settled at 30°C, down from 37.1°C a day earlier, while the minimum dipped to 21.5°C.
Flooded localities included Sectors 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, 31, 40, and 45, with arterial points like Hero Honda Chowk and IFFCO Chowk turning into bottlenecks. In Palam Vihar and DLF Phase 2, residents waded through ankle-deep water, as vehicles stalled in flooded underpasses.
Puneet Pahwa, president of the Sector 45 RWA, criticized the repeated drainage failures: “It’s only when media reports go viral that officials respond.” Residents of Imperial Gardens in Sector 102 echoed similar concerns, alleging GMDA’s disregard for drainage connectivity in newly approved layouts.
A GMDA official, on condition of anonymity, admitted that high-intensity rain overwhelmed the existing drainage. “Temporary solutions are in place. Permanent upgrades are being planned,” the official said. MCG also admitted delays in desilting drains and clearing rainwater harvesting pits.
The crisis saw the uprooting of 34 trees, which MCG’s horticulture wing swiftly began clearing on Sunday under the supervision of Assistant Engineer Sachin Yadav. Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya confirmed round-the-clock efforts to restore services.
Despite the flooding, traffic officials reported minimal disruption due to low vehicle volume on Sunday. However, commuters had a different story. “What usually takes 20 minutes took me over an hour,” said Rohit Arora, a Sector 45 commuter. “There was no traffic police presence at key intersections.”
Residents and RWAs are now demanding long-term solutions. “Before the next Gurujam happens, accountability must be fixed,” said Amit Jindal of Vipul Greens.
As Gurugram faces more monsoon challenges ahead, public trust in civic preparedness remains at an all-time low.
