- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sat, 13 Sep 2025 08:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Rains Of Gurugram: Gurugram, India’s corporate hub, has once again come under scrutiny after Monsoon rainfall exposed its fragile drainage system. The downpour left key stretches such as IFFCO Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Sohna Road, and several posh residential societies inundated, forcing residents to abandon their homes and vehicles and wade through waist-deep water to safety. Schools were shifted to online classes, and private offices instructed employees to work from home, but residents say that there is no improvement in the waterlogging situation, which continues year after year.
Adding to the woes, the city this year recorded 230.2 mm of rainfall in August, around 24 per cent above its monthly average and the highest in the last two decades, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Due to the excessive rainfall this year, some areas are still waterlogged despite the lack of rain in the past few days.
As the rainwater stagnates, health experts are warning of a looming health crisis in Gurugram. The standing water has already become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising the risks of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, as well as waterborne infections such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, and gastroenteritis.
Speaking to The Daily Jagran, Dr Tushar Tayal, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, flagged the waterlogging issue and the subsequent risk of diseases. "People in waterlogged areas are vulnerable to both waterborne and vector-borne illnesses," he told The Daily Jagran.
Dr Tayal further said that people should not ignore symptoms like high fever and persistent body aches and should consult a doctor immediately. "Symptoms like high fever, persistent body ache, diarrhea, vomiting, or jaundice should not be ignored. Early medical attention is crucial to avoid complications," Dr Tayal said.
According to health department figures, 56 dengue cases and over 120 diarrheal and gastroenteritis cases have been registered in Gurugram in the past three weeks alone, numbers comparable to the same period last year, when prolonged waterlogging triggered a spike in seasonal diseases.
Backing these warnings, Dr Arvind K. Minz, Clinical Director, Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad, noted that stagnant water mixed with sewage is creating "an incubator for pathogens." "Waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A thrive in these conditions, while mosquito breeding directly fuels dengue and malaria transmission," Dr Minz said.
"Residents must remain alert for symptoms such as persistent fever, abdominal pain, dehydration, rashes, or bleeding gums, and seek immediate care," Dr Kiz added while listing out the common symptoms for such diseases.
Some Common Water-Borne Diseases And Their Symptoms
1. Dengue, Malaria, Leptospirosis: High fever, chills, and severe body aches
2. Cholera, Gastroenteritis, Typhoid: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
3. Hepatitis A, Leptospirosis: Yellowing of skin or eyes
4. Fungal or Bacterial Infections: Skin rashes, boils, itching after water contact
Precautions For These Diseases
1. Drink boiled, filtered, or packaged water only.
2. Avoid raw fruits, salads, or street food exposed to floodwater.
3. Do not walk barefoot in contaminated water; wear protective footwear.
4. Use mosquito repellents, coils, and nets, especially at night.
5. Clear stagnant water around homes to prevent breeding
6. Consider vaccinations for typhoid and hepatitis A in high-risk areas.
How Can You Save Yourself?
Both experts stressed that while residents must take personal precautions, systemic changes are urgently needed. "Without long-term investment in drainage and sanitation infrastructure, Gurugram will continue to face the same cycle of flooding and disease every monsoon," Dr Tayal warned.
"Immediate steps such as clearing clogged drains, spraying anti-mosquito chemicals, and ensuring clean drinking water must be taken by civic authorities to prevent an outbreak," Dr Minz asserted.
With waterlogging still visible in several neighbourhoods, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Gurugram can prevent a repeat of last year’s post-rainfall disease surge, or if its residents will once again bear the brunt of civic neglect.