Trees uprooted, blackouts in homes: An hour of rain breaks Nagpur’s back

Nagpur: Thursday’s unexpected downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms, exposed NMC’s shortcomings in preparations just days ahead of monsoon.
Firefighters were left battling waterlogging and fallen trees throughout the day. Numerous areas witnessed uprooted trees, resulting in damage to vehicles and electric lines, leading to power outages. Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari downplayed the disruptions, citing only minor incidents like tree falls, but the ground reality was different.

The closure of Hingna substation compounded issues, affecting power supply to western and southwestern parts.Mahavitran workers redirected power to restore electricity to affected consumers. NMC’s water pipeline work exacerbated issues, making roads slippery and causing accidents.
Flooding affected areas like Shrikrishna Nagar and Padole Square. Waterlogging due to ongoing construction work and scattered materials hindered traffic flow in these areas. In the storm’s aftermath, residents and shop owners were seen cleaning water-logged premises. They emphasized the need for long-term solutions to mitigate such calamities.
“The sudden rains have exposed the vulnerabilities in the city’s infrastructure and disaster preparedness,” said Amit Jain, a Juni Shukrawari businessman.
Despite social media appeals, civic body response was lacking, leaving citizens to deal with the aftermath.
Rice stored in a warehouse at Jalaram Mandir in Lakadganj area suffered damage as water flooded its basement. Bhavan’s Shrikrishna Nagar School witnessed flooding as rainwater inundated several nearby houses too. Swift action by firefighters cleared the accumulated water, unclogged stormwater networks and dewatered submerged basements.
The untimely rains during summer’s peak led to traffic congestion as many roads and parts of the city became waterlogged. Ongoing cement road construction and other development projects, particularly in east and south Nagpur, contributed to the chaos. Construction sites from Great Nag Road to Jagnade Square and Umred Road to Digori exacerbated waterlogging issues.
Areas prone to waterlogging during the monsoon, such as Pratap Nagar Ring Road’s Padole Square, Shankar Nagar, Manish Nagar, and others, were affected.