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Ludhiana Underpasses Fail to Drain Monsoon Floods, Frustrating Commuters
25 Aug
Summary
- Ludhiana underpasses lack proper drainage, causing flooding every monsoon
- Pumps used to clear water, but no nearby disposal point worsens situation
- Sheds planned to reduce water inflow and improve drainage tank efficiency
As of August 25th, 2025, Ludhiana's ongoing monsoon woes continue to plague the city's commuters. The problem of flooding in the city's underpasses, which fall under the jurisdiction of the public works department (PWD), has become a routine occurrence for residents like Gurpreet Singh, who has been commuting on these roads for years.
Unlike other underpasses maintained by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, the PWD-managed ones lack a proper drainage system, leading to severe waterlogging during heavy rains. PWD executive engineer Pradeep Kumar explains that while storage tanks exist beneath the underpasses to hold rainwater, the system is overwhelmed due to the absence of sheds on the open sides. The authorities use pumps to clear the water, but the lack of a nearby disposal point only worsens the situation.
To address this persistent issue, the PWD is planning to install sheds on the open sides of the underpasses. The goal is to reduce the inflow of water, allowing the storage tanks to function more efficiently. However, the current monsoon season has already brought heavy downpours, with Ludhiana recording 79.4 mm of rain between August 21st and 22nd, followed by an additional 7.2 mm by August 22nd afternoon. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rain with thunderstorms in the district, indicating that the city's monsoon woes are far from over.
