Cars turn on their headlights to manoeuvre through the rain that lashed Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, June ued pedestrians and motorists and made life difficult for the residents.

The monsoon is yet to arrive but the city residents have started facing the waterlogging problem. The pre-monsoon showers today resulted in waterlogging in various parts of the city. Irate residents said they were contemplating hiring boats to wade through the waterlogged streets.

A few days ago, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi held a meeting to discuss the plans to curb waterlogging. He had earlier said if there is heavy rainfall, then there could be waterlogging. But it would not last for long.

“We are definitely in a position to assure people that it (waterlogging) would not last for more than five to six hours on any rainy day,” added Modi.

The Telegraph today visited many areas in the city today after the rain only to witness the poor preparation of the state government as far as the monsoon is concerned. Several areas, including Meethapur, Chitkohra, East Boring Canal Road, Bakerganj, Rajendra Nagar, Kankerbagh, Chitkohra Bridge, Boring Road, SK Puri, Patliputra, Digha, Buddha Colony and Anand Puri were the worst-hit.

Dozens of vehicles, including two-wheelers, were stranded on the middle of the thoroughfares. The manholes, supposed to drain out rainwater, were overflowing instead, complicating the situation.

Sources said the drainage system in the city was not ready to face the rains.

Every year, waterlogging is a major menace. Sources said very often more than 2’ water gets accumulated, making it impossible for residents to step out of their homes.

Manoj Verma, who was struggling to manoeuvre his car though waterlogged streets near Meethapur Bazaar, said: “The rain has made the condition horrible. Look at this: it’s waterlogged everywhere. I do not how to take my car ahead. I am not even sure whether the manhole is closed or not. This, however, is very normal in Patna. The municipality officials just leave the manholes open. Even traffic police officers are not here to guide us.”

Patliputra Colony resident Mithlesh Kumar said: “Monsoon is yet to arrive in the city. But the situation at present indicates that we are not equipped to avoid waterlogging this year as well. A number of areas in the city will be submerged during monsoon this year as well. If this is the situation before monsoon, the day is not far when we will have to travel on boats instead of bikes and cars on roads.”

Traffic was thrown out of gear at various traffic junctions like Boring Road and East Boring Canal Road.

Though traffic police officers claimed that there was no major traffic snarls today, vehicles moved very slowly because of waterlogging.

District magistrate Sanjay Kumar, too, claimed that Patna was ready for the monsoon. He said all precautionary measures had been taken.

But the reality across the city today painted a different picture.