The first spell of monsoon rain exposed how unprepared Mathura's civic administration was, as major roads across the city went under water within hours of the downpour. Areas including the stretch below the New Bus Stand bridge, Chowk Bazar, the neighbourhood around the Dwarkadhish Temple, and the area beneath the Bhuteshwar bridge were left completely flooded, throwing everyday life and traffic into disarray.
Devotees Heading To Dwarkadhish Temple Caught Off Guard
Water rose to knee level on several key stretches, making it nearly impossible for two-wheeler and four-wheeler riders to move through, and long traffic jams built up as a result. Several vehicles stalled in the standing water, while scooters and motorcycles were seen being swept along by the flow. Nearby shopkeepers stepped in to pull these vehicles out and haul them to safer ground. Pedestrians and shoppers heading to the market also struggled to make their way through the flooded lanes. Devotees who had arrived to offer prayers at the Dwarkadhish Temple found themselves wading through the same waterlogging. Near the New Bus Stand and under the Bhuteshwar bridge, the water rose high enough to bring traffic to a near standstill for a while. Drivers were forced onto alternative routes, which in turn caused jams to spill over onto other roads across the city.
A Familiar Story Every Time It Rains
Watching the roads turn into pools once again, residents of Mathura directed their frustration squarely at the civic administration, saying the same scene repeats itself with every spell of rain. According to them, the municipal corporation has never put in place a lasting drainage solution. Drains are not cleared out in time, and the existing drainage system is so weak that even a modest downpour is enough to turn the streets into ponds. Residents have demanded that the administration find a permanent fix for the waterlogging and get the drains properly cleaned before the monsoon season sets in, so that both locals and visiting devotees are spared this kind of ordeal the next time it rains.
