Nagpur: Flooded homes, ruined belongings, and unanswered pleas for help—these are the realities for residents of Ayodhya Nagar, who have faced repeated flooding since July. Around two dozen homes situated behind Gajanand High School have been severely impacted, with the crisis peaking on July 20, when rainwater inundated hundreds of homes. The September 2 flood is the third such disaster in just two months, leaving residents frustrated and desperate.
“The flooding began after the construction of a cement road, which has worsened the problem rather than solving it,” said Kamlakar Thote, a resident of the area.Despite numerous complaints to local authorities, including MLA Mohan Mate, the drainage system remains grossly inadequate.
Sharad Suryawanshi, another affected resident, highlighted that a single drainage line is expected to serve three lanes, leading to constant overflow and water entering homes.
Chandrakant Bonde, another resident, noted that multiple meetings with engineers and local authorities have yielded no results. Bonde accused NIT engineers of deliberately directing water toward their area despite knowing the potential consequences. Allegations of fraudulent practices by engineers, including flawed slope designs, have only added to the residents’ despair.
Even efforts to install new drainage lines have proven ineffective. Shekhar Gadhwe pointed out that recent interventions, such as using a JCB machine to clear blockages, have done little to alleviate the situation. “Water continues to flood our lanes from the front, turning the main road into a hazard zone with up to nine inches of water after every rainfall,” Gadhwe said.
Contractor Prateek Jumde, who oversaw the cement road construction, has been unresponsive to the residents’ repeated requests for action. “I’ve messaged Jumde numerous times, asking him to build a small speed breaker to prevent water from flowing into our homes, but he hasn’t responded,” said another local Suresh Pawar.
MLA Mohan Mate assured to look into the matter. MLA Mate said that with a ₹100 crore state fund, apart from strengthening basic infrastructures in South Nagpur, the stormwater and sewerage networks of this part of the city would be improved.
Meanwhile, NMC’s fire department reported receiving early morning calls regarding fallen trees at different locations including Empress Mall, Gaddigodam, Maharajbagh, and Kamptee Road. No loss of properties or human casulaties were reported.
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