PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey blamed encroachments along rivers and drains for obstructing the flow of rainwater, following the collapse of a drain retaining wall and a house in Kargi Chowk area after moderate rain on Monday.
Pandey said that several rivers and drains in the city had been heavily encroached upon, leaving less space for rainwater to flow and increasing the risk of flooding and damage to nearby houses. He said that the encroachments were among the reasons behind Monday’s incident.
The retaining wall collapsed around 5 AM after the water level in the drain rose sharply. Soon after, a house located along the drain also collapsed into it. The residents managed to evacuate in time and escaped unharmed.
The Kargi area has witnessed similar incidents in the past. Two houses had collapsed in the locality during heavy rainfall last year. Despite the repeated incidents, residents continue to live close to the drain, leaving them vulnerable during the monsoon.
A resident Saurabh Kumar said that people remain worried whenever there is heavy rain. “We have seen houses collapse here before. Whenever it rains heavily, the water level rises quickly and we are scared that something could happen again. The authorities need to find a permanent solution,” Kumar said.
Pandey said that after the monsoon, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) would form a joint team with the police, PWD and other concerned departments to identify encroachments along rivers and drains and initiate action against them.
The problem is not limited to Kargi. Encroachments along the Rispana and Bindal rivers have also remained a concern, while around 131 slum settlements in the city have been identified as vulnerable. Construction close to drainage channels has also increased concerns over water entering residential areas during heavy rainfall.
