Ranchi: A few hours of heavy rain threw life out of gear in the city on Saturday, with widespread waterlogging reported across several arterial stretches and residential areas.A minor bridge connecting Lalpur and Kokar via Bhaba Nagar was completely submerged. The situation was equally grim on the bustling Main Road, particularly in front of Anjuman Plaza, where two-wheeler riders faced a harrowing time navigating the flooded thoroughfare. Commuters, patients and their relatives were left stranded as the road in front of Seva Sadan Hospital was submerged under knee-deep water.Officials of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) said that quick response teams were deployed across the city to clear waterlogged roads and restore traffic movement. The civic body urged citizens to report any instances of waterlogging in their localities by contacting a dedicated toll-free number, 1800-570-1235, for immediate assistance.Low-lying residential areas bore the brunt as water from Pundag river gushed into several houses located along the Panch Mandir Road in Argora-Piper Toli area under ward 36. Locals said that this occurred because the height of the river’s guard wall was insufficient to contain the rising water level.Ward councillor Mahadev Bhengra said, “We have alerted the RMC team and arranged a vehicle to assist with drainage.”Residents said that they submitted a formal request to the civic body during the previous monsoon, asking for the guard wall to be raised by at least 3 feet. In response, engineers surveyed the site, prepared a plan to increase the wall’s height and forwarded the proposal to the RMC board. With the project yet to materialise, residents have appealed to the civic body to resolve the issue before another downpour.
