One Hour of Rain, Years of Neglect: Lucknow’s Urban Breakdown

Image Source : India Today

On Saturday morning, Lucknow saw its first major monsoon downpour—and within an hour, the city was flooded. Roads turned into rivers, homes were soaked, and even the state assembly wasn’t spared. It wasn’t just a heavy rain. It was a breakdown of basic urban planning.

What Actually Happened

- Rain started early and didn’t let up for hours, dumping 5 to 6 inches of water across the city
- Areas like Gomti Nagar, Charbagh, Ashiyana, and Dalibagh were hit hardest
- Water entered homes, damaged furniture, and left commuters stranded
- Even the Vidhan Sabha had staff using buckets to clear water from hallways

Why It Got So Bad So Fast

- The city claims it spent ₹15 crore on drain cleaning before monsoon—but many drains were still clogged
- Contracts were handed to private agencies, but field reports show little work was actually done
- No emergency response teams were visible during the flooding, and traffic came to a standstill

What People Are Saying

- Residents are angry and demanding answers. “Where did the ₹15 crore go?” asked one local
- Commuters described knee-deep water, broken-down scooters, and zero help on the roads
- Even officials living near flooded zones didn’t step in to help

What Needs to Change