Heavy rain triggers severe waterlogging in West Bengal's Hooghly; residents allege poor drainage
Hooghly, August 6
Heavy rainfall led to severe waterlogging in the Serampore area of West Bengal's Hooghly district on Wednesday, inundating roads and residential localities and causing major inconvenience to residents and commuters.
The area showed roads submerged under rainwater, making it difficult for pedestrians and motorists to move through several stretches. Water also entered low-lying areas near residential neighbourhoods, affecting normal daily activities.
Residents said the problem of waterlogging has become a recurring issue during the monsoon despite repeated drainage improvement works undertaken in the locality.
Speaking to ANI, a local resident alleged that the drainage infrastructure had failed to address the problem.
"The area continues to face severe waterlogging despite drainage work done. Public money has been wasted. Residents are continuing to face inconvenience," the resident said.
Serampore, one of the densely populated urban centres in Hooghly district, has witnessed repeated incidents of waterlogging during heavy spells of rain over the years. Several low-lying areas remain vulnerable due to inadequate drainage capacity and overflowing stormwater channels during periods of intense rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall across several districts of south Bengal under the influence of an active monsoon system. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been predicted at isolated places, prompting authorities to advise residents to remain cautious.
Over the past few days, several parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas, have received intermittent heavy rainfall, leading to traffic congestion, waterlogging and disruption of normal life in many urban areas.
Urban flooding has remained a persistent challenge in several municipalities across the state during the monsoon season, with civic authorities frequently deploying pumps and emergency teams to drain out accumulated rainwater and restore normalcy.
Residents of Serampore urged the authorities to implement a long-term solution to the recurring problem, stating that temporary measures have failed to prevent flooding during every spell of heavy rain.
Officials are monitoring the situation, while civic authorities have initiated efforts to drain the accumulated water from the affected areas.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is not just about Hooghly, it's the same in Howrah and parts of Kolkata too. The civic bodies need to plan for the future, not just put temporary pumps every time it rains. We need proper stormwater drainage and desilting before the monsoon, not after the damage is done.
The residents are right to be frustrated—every year we hear the same excuses. And the worst part is that these areas are densely populated, so the suffering is multiplied. I hope the authorities listen and implement a real long-term solution instead of just photo ops for the news. 🌧️
Honestly, we can't keep blaming only the authorities. Climate change is making these rains more intense, but that also means our infrastructure needs to adapt faster. It's a collective failure—both in planning and execution. But seeing children and elderly struggling in water is just painful. 😢
I have lived in Serampore for 30 years, and I can tell you, this is NOT new. The problem is that the drainage channels are often blocked by garbage and construction debris. Until we as citizens also stop littering and the municipality starts cleaning these choked drains regularly, this will never be resolved. Long-term fix is a must, but civic sense is equally important. 💧
It's disheartening to see that even in 2024, basic urban infrastructure is failing in such a major town. This isn't just a monsoon nuisance—it's a public health issue because stagnant water can lead to dengue and other diseases. I hope the state government steps in urgently with a proper action plan, not
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