SMC deploys pumps, machinery to tackle waterlogging after heavy rainfall in Srinagar
Srinagar, July 20: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Monday said it has activated all dewatering stations and deployed mobile pumps and machinery across the city to clear waterlogging caused by a sudden spell of heavy rainfall.
SMC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Srinagar Smart City Limited, Faz Lul Haseeb (IAS), said the intense rainfall led to a rise in water levels, resulting in waterlogging at several locations across the city.
“Wherever we have received complaints of waterlogging, we have immediately deployed our manpower and machinery,” he told reporters.
He said priority was being given to vulnerable locations, including PCR, SMHS Hospital, Jehangir Chowk and Lal Chowk, where teams were working to drain out the accumulated water.
The commissioner said the SMC control room was functioning round the clock and urged people to report incidents of waterlogging through the helpline numbers, which have been made public on the corporation’s social media platforms.
He said all dewatering stations, mobile pumps and field staff had been pressed into service to deal with the situation.
Haseeb said the contact numbers of senior SMC officials, including his own, the Joint Commissioner and Executive Engineer (City Drainage), would also be shared again on the corporation’s social media handles to facilitate public communication.
Explaining the reason behind the waterlogging, he said a sudden burst of heavy rainfall sometimes exceeds the carrying capacity of drains, reducing their ability to discharge water quickly.
He added that de-clogging of drains was also underway and expressed hope that the situation would be brought under control soon.(KNS)
