Though the city has received lesser rainfall this year in comparision to last year but the areas located below the sea-level are still feeling the pinch due to intermittent rain that has hit the city in the last 24 hours.
Residents of Bhuiyadih were the worst-hit as water entered in most of the houses on Friday. Peeved over the situation, the residents blocked Bhuiyadih road in protest and demanded cleanliness of the drainage system. The traffic movement came to stand still due to protest. “Irregular rains have made life difficult for the residents. There are little amenities available for the people. We want better drainage system so that water does not clog,” said Paresh Mathur, a resident. The demonstration continued for several hours however some representatives of the administration reached the site and assured the demonstrators of taking proper steps to deal with the situation.
According to information areas like Mango, Jugsalai, Baghbera, Pardih have been worst hit. Meanwhile S R A Rizwi Chabban, secretary, Jharkhand State Congress , said steps should be taken to fill the pots in several areas of Mango like Azad Nagar, Zakirangar and Old Pururia Road. He further added that residents of Mango would soon meet the deputy commissioner to register complaints. Meteorological office in Sonari predicts that the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal is bringing good rainfall in the region and the situation is likely to remain the same in next 24 hours. The city on Friday recorded 50 mm rainfall.
Traffic was disrupted as major main roads in the city were inundated. Commuters had a tough time wading through knee-deep water to reach their destinations. There is also a fear of an outbreak of water-borne diseases. The traffic police had a tough time regulating traffic in the affected areas. In a few areas, traffic constables were seen opening manhole covers to enable free flow of rainwater into the drains. The meteorological department said a strong depression, hovering over Gangetic West Bengal, would cross over to Jharkhand bringing rains throughout the state. According to observations of the meteorological department, 70mm is considered to be heavy rainfall.