A few hours of heavy rain on Monday exposed the Municipal Corporation's claims of being fully prepared for the monsoon season, as waterlogging was reported from several parts of the city, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to residents and commuters.

Major water accumulation was witnessed at Sherpur Chowk, Haibowal, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Field Ganj, Bhamian Khurd, Dhandari and Focal Point, among other areas. Several stretches remained submerged for hours after the rain, raising questions over the effectiveness of the civic body's pre-monsoon desilting and drainage management efforts.

The situation was particularly severe on roads that have been dug up under the World Bank-funded 24×7 water supply project. With rainwater mixing with loose sand and excavated soil lying on road stretches, several roads turned slushy, creating hazardous conditions for motorists. Residents complained that vehicles got stuck at a number of locations, especially in Model Town, Haibowal and Jassian Road area, where ongoing pipeline-laying work has already narrowed carriageways.

Commuters faced long traffic snarls as two-wheelers skidded on muddy stretches while motorists struggled to navigate waterlogged roads. Local residents alleged that despite repeated assurances from the civic body regarding restoration of roads before the monsoon, many stretches remain dug up and unsafe.

The rainfall again highlighted the city's vulnerability to waterlogging, with even a few hours of rain leading to flooding on major roads and intersections. Residents said if such conditions prevail after the season's initial showers, the situation could worsen significantly during monsoon spells.

Opposition leaders and residents also questioned the pace of restoration work under the 24×7 water supply project, alleging that incomplete road repairs have added to the city's monsoon woes.