News: Faulty Drain Gate Near Vatika Chowk Worsened Flooding-27-08-2026
A gate at the junction of the Leg 3 (Badshahpur drain) and Leg 4 (SPR) stormwater drains had gaps and was not fully closed in time, which contributed to Monday’s flooding on Sohna Road, a Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) official aware of the matter said on Thursday. Excess water was not diverted to Leg 4, and the Badshahpur drain overflowed.
The gate has two shutters installed separately, with gaps between them. A senior GMDA official said directions have been issued to repair the gates and make them work properly. An HT spot check on Thursday found the gate fully shut but with gaps, and workers inspecting it.
GMDA built Leg 4 along the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) for over Rs 100 crore to take excess water from the Badshahpur drain. The tender was floated in 2024 and work finished this year. When the gate near Vatika Chowk is closed, water from DLF Phase 1, sectors 42, 43, 52A and 53 to 67, and villages such as Maidawas, Ramgarh, Ullawas, Badshahpur and Ghata is meant to flow through Leg 4.
Officials said the Badshahpur drain can carry around 3,800 cusecs and Leg 4 1,800 cusecs. The two merge in Sector 37D after crossing NH-48 and run to the Najafgarh drain.
Dr Shiv Singh Rawat, former superintending engineer, irrigation department, Haryana and convenor, Yamuna Bachao Abhiyan, said encroachment had sharply reduced the capacity of natural drains while run-off had risen. Gates need regular maintenance, he said, and the best option is to post staff at them during rain.
Elsewhere, officials found that a stormwater drain built across the Tau Devi Lal drain near the Medanta underpass was not connected to nearby surface and stormwater drains. At Subash Chowk, drainage chambers were blocked by garbage, and an official said the master drain had been given a 90-degree U-turn for an underpass, impeding flow.
Around 80 mm of rain fell on Monday, and at least 14 school buses were stuck across the city. GMDA CEO PC Meena inspected the affected spots on Tuesday.
