John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, September 25: Relentless heavy rainfall on Saturday, September 23, wreaked havoc in the Kadamtala region of Middle Andaman, leaving some areas inundated. The downpour, which persisted throughout the morning, resulted in extensive waterlogging, with reports indicating even the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Kadamtala was affected.
Villages of the area are urgently appealing to NHIDCL officials to address the drainage issues along the National Highway road and to expedite the removal of accumulated water during heavy rain from the streets and the hospital campus, which has intruded into the hospital premises.
As per details, after heavy rain the entire hospital campus was submerged due to the waterlogging, causing significant difficulties for patients and their families who visited the facility. Healthcare workers also suffered heavily due to the challenges posed by the inundation.
In response to the crisis, Gram Panchayat Uttara, in collaboration with the Andaman Public Works Department (APWD) and local Panchayat workers, initiated a drainage cleaning operation this morning and by the afternoon, the main blocked drains was cleared, and the waterlogged areas were drained.
Mr. Prakash Mondal, the Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Uttara, expressed frustration over the recurring problem, stating that they have consistently raised concerns with the District Administration about water-logging issues caused by the incomplete works of NH4 contractors. He revealed that both major and minor drainage systems are obstructed by waste, leading to the recurrent waterlogging.
He said that he has lodged numerous complaints with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), urging them to devise a maintenance plan for the drainage systems in the area. However, without proper oversight and action, waterlogging persists, even during minor rainfalls.
Pradhan Mondal held NHIDCL responsible for the current water-logging situation in the area, accusing them of negligence in addressing this persistent issue. As usual NHIDCL officials were unavailable for a comment in this regard.
