The few hours of intense rainfall that lashed Srinagar recently exposed an uncomfortable reality: despite years of investment under the Smart City Mission, the city remains highly vulnerable to urban flooding. Roads that had been recently upgraded and beautified disappeared beneath stagnant water, commercial establishments were inundated, traffic came to a standstill, and residents once again found themselves navigating through flooded streets after only a short spell of rain.

The episode was not merely the result of an unusually intense storm. It was a reminder that Srinagar’s drainage infrastructure has not kept pace with the changing climate, rapid urbanization, and evolving land-use patterns. While the city has undoubtedly witnessed remarkable improvements in its urban aesthetics through modern streetscapes, public spaces, lighting, and pedestrian-friendly corridors, the recent flooding suggests that the less visible—but far more critical—drainage infrastructure has not received the same level of attention.

Climate change is fundamentally altering rainfall characteristics across the Himalayan region. Scientific observations increasingly indicate that rainfall events are becoming shorter in duration but significantly more intense. Instead of prolonged moderate rainfall spread over several days, cities are now experiencing cloudburst-like episodes capable of overwhelming conventional drainage systems within minutes. Infrastructure designed decades ago using historical rainfall records is no longer adequate to handle these new extremes.

Srinagar presents a particularly complex hydrological setting. The city lies within a flat alluvial basin intersected by the River Jhelum, numerous canals, flood spill channels, wetlands, and an intricate network of drains. Its naturally low gradients make gravity-driven drainage inherently slow. Any obstruction, reduction in channel capacity, backwater effect from the Jhelum, or blockage within secondary drains can quickly translate into extensive waterlogging.Rapid urban expansion has further........

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