Heavy downpour for 10 hours turns Ara into floating town

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Heavy dowpour for about 10 hours on July 25, 2018, turned Ara into a floating town exposing tall claims of Ara Municipal Corporation (AMC) of keeping the town ‘clean and green’. With most of the low lying areas waterlogged, normal life has been paralyzed forcing the residents to remain indoors. The rainwater has entered even the business establishments and houses. The rains have forced shopkeepers to down their shutters.

The rain water has entered many houses in Katira, Pakari, K G Road, M PBagh, Old Policeline, Bind Toli, Syndicate, Mirganj, Awarpur, Gausganj, Ramgarhia, Maulabagh, Hari Jee Ka Hata, New Police Line, Karman Tola, Badi Mathia, Station road, and Patel Bus Stand. Sheesh Mahal Chowk, Gopali Chowk, Mahavir Tola, Sheoganj, Shital Tola, D T Road are also waterlogged and a foul smell has also started emanating from the overflowing drains.

A transformer and an electric pole fell to the ground besides a number trees interrupted power supply till the time of reporting. Residents of Ara complained that their Ward Councillors seldom bother to get cleaned drains under their respective wards.

The main vegetable market located at Sheesh Mahal Chowk has become a veritable hell. “You only soil your clothes while buying vegetables in the market,” said a housewife Neha Kushwaha. Once rain lashes the town, slush and dirt spill over the roads. Pedestrians and two wheelers are made to wade through the slush, said Hare Ram Singh of Shivganj. Stray pigs, cattle and dogs roaming around the streets are a real nuisance. The situation is compounded with their excreta scattered around everywhere.

Pramod Kumar, Town Commissioner, Ara Municipal Corporation (AMC) said that drains were cleaned prior to the rainy season but the drains have chocked again as the people throw polythene bags and garbage into the drains. He said drains will be cleaned and de-silted again. But, the farmers are happy as their paddy transplantation process will start now. Their seedlings were withering away for want of water and this rain will save the seedling. If the rain continues for one or two more days, transplantation work will be started, said a  farmer Krishna Kumar.