Two people were drowned in a flooded underpass in Faridabad, reports said.
Punyashreya Sharma, branch manager of HDFC Bank in Gurugram’s Sector 31, and Viraj Dwivedi, a cashier at the same branch, drowned while returning from work.
It’s a yet another glaring example of inadequate planning and neglect by the authorities concerned.
In a harrowing incident that underscores the systemic failures of urban infrastructure, branch manager of HDFC Bank in Gurugram’s Sector 31, and Viraj Dwivedi, a cashier at the same branch tragically drowned in a flood in Faridabad, a city that is part of the National Capital Region (NCR). The victims were trapped in an underpass, a glaring example of inadequate planning and neglect by the authorities responsible for urban safety.
Faridabad, a city that is part of the National Capital Region (NCR) tragically drowned after their Mahindra XUV700 entered the Old Faridabad railway underpass, which had been inundated with water from recent torrential rains. Despite the visible warning signs indicating severe flooding, their vehicle became trapped as the water levels rapidly rose, leading to a devastating loss of life. This heart-wrenching incident highlights not only the inadequacies of local governance but also a broader crisis of systemic neglect and inefficiency.
The NCR tragedy is not an isolated incident but a glaring symptom of deeper issues within the urban infrastructure and governance framework. Despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert for heavy rainfall, warning of severe weather conditions, local authorities failed to act proactively. The IMD’s forecast, indicating rainfall levels exceeding 1,000 mm in Delhi—among the highest in a decade—was a clear signal of the potential for disaster. Yet, the necessary precautions and infrastructure updates to handle such an event were conspicuously absent.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of government negligence and poor urban planning. If such a dire situation can occur in a city that’s so expensive that comes within the National Capital Region (NCR), what about the conditions in other states and cities across India? The failure to address the illegal constructions and infrastructural deficiencies around water bodies has led to exacerbated flooding problems. Unauthorized constructions obstruct natural water flow, resulting in hazardous conditions that endanger lives. The local authorities, including the Municipal Corporation (Nagar Nigam), have shown a glaring lack of accountability and efficiency in addressing these critical issues.
In a disturbing twist, consider the case of Old Rajinder Nagar, where a man who merely passed with his car through the area was unjustly accused and arrested in connection with the deaths of IAS aspirants. This incident reflects a troubling tendency to deflect blame onto individuals rather than addressing the root causes of systemic failures. The real culprits—the negligent officials and the corrupt practices allowing illegal constructions—are not held accountable. Instead, convenient scapegoats are targeted to distract from the underlying issues.
The public’s response to these tragedies is often one of short-lived outrage, quickly overshadowed by the next crisis. This lack of sustained protest and accountability allows such incidents to fade from memory without prompting the necessary reforms. It is crucial to question why, despite clear warnings from the IMD, the local authorities failed to implement adequate safety measures and infrastructure improvements. Why is there no significant action against the Nagar Nigam for their role in these disasters? Why is there no pressure on the government to address the systemic flaws and illegal constructions that contribute to these tragedies?
As we grapple with the aftermath of the NCR flood, it is imperative to demand immediate reforms and hold accountable those responsible for the negligence that led to this tragedy. The failure to act on clear warnings and address infrastructural deficiencies underscores a critical need for reform. The tragic deaths of the two managers and the cashier should serve as a catalyst for change, pushing for accountability and a commitment to preventing future disasters. Until we see substantial reforms and a shift towards genuine accountability, similar tragedies will continue to occur, and the cycle of negligence will persist.