Vehicles stall, residents fume as Cunchelim road floods yet again

SAME STORY AGAIN: The Cunchelim road was once again submerged after steady rain on Sunday, causing inconvenience to motorists and commuters navigating the waterlogged stretch.

MAPUSA

A fresh spell of rain on Sunday once again turned the frequently flooded road stretch in Cunchelim into a waterlogged mess, leaving several vehicles, especially two-wheelers, stalled and commuters stranded.

The situation has reignited criticism over the Mapusa civic body's preparedness and the effectiveness of remedial work promised earlier this year.

Despite assurances that the issue had been resolved, the area flooded once again after a single heavy shower, exposing the vulnerability of the drainage system in place.

This stretch of road has been prone to flooding every monsoon, causing repeated hardships to motorists, pedestrians and local residents.

Local councillor had earlier claimed that the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) along with the Public Works Department (PWD) had found a permanent solution by digging three drainage holes along a compound wall lining the road to drain out excess water.

The recent flooding, however, cast serious doubt over the adequacy of the measures taken.

“It’s the same story every year. The road gets flooded with just one heavy spell of rain. On Sunday, several two-wheelers got stalled while trying to navigate the stretch. The civic body has clearly failed to do proper pre-monsoon maintenance,” said Sitesh More, a resident of Khorlim, Mapusa.

He further criticised the MMC for its recurring lapses.

“They make temporary arrangements and give false assurances. But it’s the public that suffers. People of Mapusa should remember this when politicians come asking for votes,” More said.

The recurring flooding in Cunchelim not only disrupts traffic but also poses safety risks and impacts daily life for nearby residents.

Locals are now demanding a more permanent and engineered solution to address the annual problem rather than quick-fix patchwork ahead of the monsoon.