Over 200 houses inundated; MLA Purnima Sahu meets deputy commissioner

Key Points:

• Dirty drain water enters over 200 homes in Patel Nagar area
• Residents blame civic body for uncleaned drains before monsoon
• MLA Purnima Sahu seeks permanent fix from deputy commissioner

JAMSHEDPUR – A few hours of heavy rain on Friday exposed lapses in the municipal corporation’s drainage and cleanliness arrangements. Patel Nagar, Teachers Colony and nearby localities in the Jamshedpur East assembly segment bore the brunt.

Dirty drain water, mixed with rainwater, entered people’s homes across these areas. More than 200 houses were affected by the sudden waterlogging, residents said.

Many families reportedly suffered losses worth lakhs of rupees. Furniture, electronic goods, rations and clothes were damaged in the flooding.

However, residents said the major drains and water outlets had not been properly cleaned before the monsoon. Silt and garbage accumulated in the drains blocked the water flow.

As a result, roads turned into waterlogged streets within a short time. Several families spent the entire night draining water out of their homes.

Meanwhile, daily life was also badly hit by the flooding. Movement on lanes and roads was disrupted as water accumulated everywhere.

Children, elderly residents and women faced the most difficulty, locals said. Residents said this situation recurs every monsoon without a lasting solution from the corporation.

In addition, angry residents protested against the civic body and accused officials of negligence. They demanded compensation for affected families and immediate cleaning of the drains.

Residents also demanded a permanent fix to the drainage system. They warned of a larger agitation against the corporation if the problem is not addressed soon.

“If the situation is not resolved quickly, we will be forced to launch a wider protest,” a local resident said.

On the other hand, Jamshedpur East MLA Purnima Sahu met the deputy commissioner over the severity of the situation. She apprised him of the problems faced by residents in the affected areas.

The MLA urged a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem. She also sought immediate cleaning of the drains and relief for the affected families.

The complaint comes days after Sahu held a meeting with Tata Steel UISL on water, roads and sanitation works. Besides, the Jharkhand weather department had earlier issued an orange alert for heavy rain across the district.

Meanwhile, Mango Municipal Corporation and JNAC have also been directed to speed up pending civic projects. Similarly, an alert for further rain across Jharkhand districts had been issued earlier this month.