Heavy rainfall in the Delhi-NCR region has led to severe waterlogging and flooding, creating immense difficulties for residents. Ghaziabad, in particular, has faced the brunt of the monsoon's fury, with one of the most striking instances occurring at ABES Engineering College. A girls' hostel at the college was inundated after heavy rains, causing significant damage to property and widespread panic among the students.
Videos circulating on social media captured the extent of the flooding, showing corridors transformed into shallow streams and rooms filled with knee-deep water. Students were seen struggling to salvage their belongings as dustbins and plastic bottles floated around them. Clothes, textbooks, laptops, and mobile phones were among the items damaged by the deluge. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the emotional distress of the students was evident in the videos shared online.
The flooding wasn't an isolated incident; it reflected a broader pattern of waterlogging and infrastructure issues plaguing Ghaziabad and neighboring Noida. Basements of residential societies were submerged, and roads became impassable, disrupting daily life. In one instance, the basement of a residential society collapsed due to the incessant rain, damaging parked vehicles. Even the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) office and the municipal corporation headquarters experienced flooding in their basements, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
Residents have expressed frustration with the inadequate civic response to the flooding. Many claimed that despite contacting local authorities and representatives, help was slow to arrive or nonexistent. This has led to increased calls for a long-term solution to Ghaziabad's drainage issues, with residents emphasizing the need for a proper drainage master plan to prevent future flooding.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that light to moderate showers are expected to continue in the region through August 5, with the possibility of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms between August 1 and 3. This forecast raises concerns about the potential for further flooding and disruption in the coming days.
In the aftermath of the flooding at ABES Engineering College, students and their families are demanding answers and action from the college administration and local authorities. They are calling for measures to address the root causes of the flooding to prevent similar incidents from happening again. For now, the students are left to cope with the immediate aftermath, drying their clothes and attempting to salvage what they can, while hoping for a solution before the next downpour.
