Ludhiana, Jan. 24 -- Residents welcomed the long-awaited rainfall, which brought cooler temperatures and cleaner air, but relief quickly gave way to chaos as waterlogged streets and damaged roads disrupted the city. Vehicles were stranded on pothole-ridden stretches, including dug-up portions of the NHAI road, while low-lying areas flooded and ongoing construction worsened traffic snarls, exposing the city's fragile drainage and road infrastructure.

The showers, which began on Thursday night and continued intermittently on Friday, offered temporary respite from the heat. However, water accumulated rapidly on roads already weakened by potholes and pipeline works, slowing traffic and creating hazards for motorists. On the Jalandhar bypass,...