Why Noida’s office hub goes under water after every downpour?

A moderate spell of rain on Wednesday morning submerged a 500-meter stretch of Sector 62 in Noida.

Rain on Wednesday morning caused chaos in Sector 62, one of Noida’s busiest areas and a large corporate office hub. The area, a key arterial stretch connecting Noida's 7x sectors to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) and NH-9, experienced severe waterlogging, turning roads into temporary canals and causing traffic to slow to a crawl.

According to The Times of India, a moderate spell of rain on Wednesday morning submerged a 500-meter stretch of Sector 62, causing flooding with stagnant, filthy water that lasted into the afternoon. The flooding is a recurring issue, even with brief rain, affecting motorists, office workers, and students.

Lined with prominent educational institutions and several business schools, the stretch, as per the report, is also used daily by residents of nearby housing societies like Rajat Vihar. Despite its strategic importance, residents have long complained that the flooding issue in the area has persisted for years.

नोएडा: सेकटर 62 में जल भराव की स्तिथि देखिए, आसपास के लोगो के मुताबिक, एक युवक खुले ड्रेनेज में डूब रहा था लोगो ने किसी तरह बचाया।#Noida@noida_authority@CeoNoidapic.twitter.com/AylSCG8kGp

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The problem is attributed to stormwater runoff from Khoda, a densely populated, unplanned urban locality in neighbouring Ghaziabad, according to officials and locals, the report added. Perched at a higher elevation, Khoda routinely channels its rainwater downhill—directly into Sector 62. Following this, Noida’s drainage system, built to handle only local runoff, gets overwhelmed during heavy downpours.

Sukhdev Sharma, president of Rajat Vihar B Block RWA, was quoted by TOI as saying: "Even a 15-minute shower is enough to flood this stretch. The drainage is too narrow, and the entire burden of Khoda's runoff comes crashing down here."

RK Uprety, head of the Sector 62 RWA, echoed the frustration. "Last year we faced the same issue. JCBs were called to clear drains, but that was just a band-aid solution. We need a long-term fix," he was quoted by TOI. Cab driver Hashim, who was driving through Sector 62 around 10 am, described the condition as "pathetic."

"The wheels of my car were completely submerged. People were stuck, walking through dirty water. Even light rain turns this place into a nightmare," he said.

Meanwhile, senior officials of the Noida Authority, including additional CEO Sanjay Khatri, visited affected areas to assess the damage. Vijay Rawal, deputy general manager (civil), acknowledged the scale of the problem.

"Our drains are not designed to handle water from outside Noida. The excess water from Khoda causes the backup, particularly in low-lying areas like Rajat Vihar," he told TOI. While admitting that there's no quick solution, Rawal said that plans are underway to widen the drains to better accommodate the excess water.

"It's a long-term process and likely won't be completed before next year," he added. As per the report, Wednesday's rain also affected other parts of the city.

Waterlogging was reported from Sector 18, DSC Road, and the Mahamaya Flyover. In Sector 2, a temple premise was flooded just as Kanwar pilgrims arrived to offer prayers.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Noida recorded 36.5 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm on Wednesday. Krishna Kumar, IMD scientist, was quoted by TOI saying that mists are caused due to overcast conditions and nearly 100% humidity. Maximum and minimum temperatures were 27.9°C and 26.6°C, compared to Tuesday's 30.9°C and 25.6°C.

As per the report, Thursday is likely to be cloudy with the possibility of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, and temperatures ranging between 30-32°C and 23-25°C.