Following intense rainfall, roads in south Kashmir’s Awantipora town on Wednesday were inundated, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters, shopkeepers and residents.
Residents said the main road passing through the town was submerged following the downpour, making it difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to move through the area.
“Water entered some shops and residential houses,” said Javed Ahmad, a resident.
He said the rainfall had exposed the poor drainage system in the area, with water accumulating on the roads instead of draining away.
Zeeshan Ahmad, a commuter, said driving through the town became difficult as large stretches of the road were covered with water.
“There was so much water on the road that it felt like a river was running through it,” he said.
The waterlogging also affected businesses along the main road, with shopkeepers forced to deal with water entering their establishments. Residents said the problem becomes particularly severe after heavy rainfall, when the existing drainage network is unable to cope with the volume of water.
Commuters said the accumulation of water reduced road visibility and made it difficult for vehicles to navigate the affected stretches. Pedestrians were also forced to negotiate waterlogged sections of the road.
Residents urged the authorities to take immediate steps to improve the drainage system and ensure that rainwater is properly channelled away from the main road and nearby residential areas.
They said repeated waterlogging not only disrupts daily movement but also poses a risk of damage to shops, homes and roads.
The latest waterlogging has once again raised concerns over the town’s drainage infrastructure, particularly as short spells of intense rainfall can quickly overwhelm existing drainage arrangements.
Residents called for the identification of vulnerable points and construction or repair of drains to prevent rainwater from accumulating on the main road during heavy downpours.
About The Author
