Patna: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi also fell victim to waterlogging on Sunday. Wading through 1.5ft-deep water, he was seen instructing officials to remove accumulated rainwater from the campus of his Rajendra Nagar residence.
"Modi ji had to go to Patna City today (Sunday) to attend a function. On return, he had to pull up his pyjamas so as to save his clothes from getting wet while entering the house," one of his close aides told The Telegraph.
Several areas of Patna, including Rajendra Nagar, Kankerbagh, Kadamkuan, Kidwaipuri, Jakkanpur, Station Road, Patliputra and Patna City, were found under 2-3ft water. Rainwater also entered some houses in Rajendra Nagar, Kankerbagh, Jakkanpur and Kidwaipuri, posing difficulties for residents. Many thought it wise not to venture outside.
"Sunday being a holiday, I could stay in the house and avoid going outside. But I am worried what will happen tomorrow (Monday) if the my locality continues to stay waterlogged," said Mohan Prasad, a resident of Rajendra Nagar.
Sunil Kumar (36), a resident of Jakkanpur, who was spotted scooping out accumulated water from his campus with the help of a tub, said: "The drainage system here is very poor owing to which we have to face waterlogging every year. We have time and again raised the issue with the ward council and also written to the PMC about this but to no avail," said Sunil.
PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman and deputy municipal commissioner Vishal Anand could not be contacted despite several attempts. A PMC official, however, said the PMC kept its offices open even on Sunday to address the waterlogging situation. PMC commissioner Suman had issued the direction regarding this on Saturday.
The executive officer of Patna City circle of PMC, Sushil Kumar Mishra, claimed that measures had been taken to address the waterlogging in Patna City. "We are continuously monitoring the sump house in our area. But the problem is that the three circles, including New Capital, Kankerbagh and Patna City, are dependent on only one sump house in Patna City," he added.
"We are removing garbage from the Saidpur drain continuously so that it can help drain out excess rainwater."
