Our Correspondent Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 20 Work and normal activities came to halt at government offices and private organisations due to heavy downpour here today. Situation is already sensitive in the town due to outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera. The administration is on it toes and is making extra arrangements for disposal of rainwater from ponds to prevent spread of water-born diseases. Unpreparedness of offcials concerned of the civic bodies of the area has compounded problems for residents living in low-lying localities. They suffered substantial losses as the rainwater entered their houses and establishments. Despite claims by the civic authorities regarding strengthening of sewerage system to tackle flooding in the rainy season there was no respite for resident this year too. Normal life came to a standstill in the morning when heavy rain flooded the low-lying areas, including Railway Road, Jawahar Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh area, Dehliz Road, Mahavir Road, Bank Street and Bajrang Akhara Road besides residential and commercial areas of Brahampur, Malaudh, Gill, Baurhai, Lohgarh and Chhapar villages. Rainwater entered government offices, including the Municipal Council office, police station, sub-registrar office and majority of schools. Elected representatives of the badly affected areas were seen consoling residents of their respective wards. Some chose to switch off their mobiles to avoid their wratht of their supporters. Attendance was thin in majority of educational institutes, with maximum affect on primary and elementary institutions. Those who attended their routine work had to wade through knee-deep water at certain places to reach their respective destinations. Gurjit Singh Saran, a social activist of Brahampur village, which is known as a model village adopted by an international organisation for development, alleged that due to choking of sewerage at various places many houses were submerged today. Appreciating prompt response by officials at Block Development and Panchayat Office, Pakhowal, Saran regretted that an inadequate grant was the major reason behind the poor drainage in the village. Panchayat secretary Satnam Singh, who accompanied the visiting team to Brahampur, said the civic body authorities had been advised to deploy extra labour for clearing of drains and streets. “However we have sought more grants for massive clearing of sewage pipes,” he added.

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