Patna drenched in untimely downpour

PATNA: An untimely downpour led to waterlogging and traffic jam in several localities of the city on Tuesday. Commuters were stuck in traffic jam for hours at several places.
Since several roads were dug up for laying underground water pipelines, electric and phone wires as well as construction of drains, it added to the woes of people. Rainwater inundated roads in several low-lying areas of the city, such as Rajendra Nagar, Kadamkuan, Patliputra, Patna Junction and Thakurbari.
Mukesh Kumar, a motorist, said parts of Ashok Rajpath and its approach roads were dug up for laying gas pipeline. “The rain complicated the situation. The traffic police personnel were nowhere to be seen when the motorists were trying to negotiate the waterlogged roads,” he added.
Ashwini Kunwer, a resident of Bank Road, said some motorists nearly met accident near Gandhi Market and Judges Court Road.
Surabhi, a resident of Rajendra Nagar road number 12, said the agencies concerned did not repair roads at several places after completing civic work.
Patna mayor Sita Sahu said the agencies concerned did not take permission from the municipal body before digging up the roads in the city. “The Patna commissioner had instructed the companies to take permission from Patna Municipal Corporation and road construction department before digging up roads. They, however, dug the roads at their will and filled the wholes with debris. Action will be taken against these agencies for causing inconvenience to people,” she added.
The mayor said the civic body was trying to pump out rainwater from the affected areas.