Ludhiana, June 18 -- Despite repeated assurances of monsoon preparedness by the municipal authorities, the very first spell of pre-monsoon rain late Monday night laid bare the city's inadequate drainage infrastructure. Within hours, the brief downpour, caused waterlogging in multiple areas, raising serious questions over the effectiveness of the MC's 'monsoon action plan'.

Only last week, senior MC officials chaired a meeting to review and claim completion of desilting work in major drains and gullies. They had assured that preventive measures had been taken to avoid waterlogging in vulnerable areas. However, a brief spell of rain on Tuesday afternoon was enough to leave roads submerged, causing traffic snarls and distress to residents....