A spell of light rain on Saturday exposed glaring deficiencies in the civic infrastructure of Mandi Gobindgarh — regarded as Punjab’s richest Municipal Council — and Amloh Municipal Council, drawing sharp criticism from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) core committee member and Amloh constituency in-charge Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna.
Khanna alleged that even the brief rainfall was enough to expose the “hollowness” of the state government’s development claims, as roads, markets and residential colonies in both towns were submerged due to the failure of the sewerage and drainage systems.
In Mandi Gobindgarh, waterlogging was reported from Main Bazaar, Dashmesh Colony, Dalip Nagar, Kalpana Chawla Market, Motia Khan, Gaushala Road and several other localities. The town’s iron market, a key pillar of its industrial economy, also witnessed severe water accumulation, disrupting commercial activity and causing inconvenience to traders and residents.
Khanna questioned how a Municipal Council considered among the wealthiest in Punjab, with crores of rupees reportedly available in its treasury, had failed to provide even basic urban infrastructure such as proper drainage and well-maintained roads. He said recurring waterlogging after every rainfall reflects years of administrative neglect and poor planning rather than an unavoidable natural problem.
A similar situation was witnessed in Amloh, where a light shower left several streets inundated, making movement difficult for residents. The rain also exposed a serious safety concern at the Nasrali railway underpass, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Mandi Gobindgarh Municipal Council. A school bus carrying children got stranded after entering the waterlogged underpass. Although all students were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, the incident raised serious questions about public safety. It also sparked concern over decision of the bus driver — who reportedly uses the route daily — to enter the flooded underpass despite visible risk, endangering the lives of schoolchildren.
