A Ghaziabad resident has issued a legal notice to the municipal commissioner, demanding Rs 5 lakh in damages after his Mercedes suffered a breakdown amid severe waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in the Sahibabad area. Amit Kishore, a resident of Vasundhara, reportedly faced car trouble in Sahibabad on July 23 when his Mercedes got stuck on a flooded road, according to PTI sources.
Kishore explained that he was en route to Lajpat Nagar when his Mercedes GLA 200D came to a halt near Shyam Park Extension due to severe waterlogging. “The entire stretch was submerged, and the drainage system had completely failed,” he stated. He eventually had to arrange for a tow truck to transport the vehicle to a service center in Noida. The repair costs are expected to run into several lakhs of rupees. Kishore mentioned that he had purchased the vehicle in 2018 for a sum of Rs 60 lakh.
About the legal notice
The notice further warns that if the municipal corporation fails to respond adequately within 15 days, Amit Kishore plans to move the High Court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and seek an investigation by the Lokayukta into possible corruption. He also intends to pursue a civil suit to recover damages.
Kishore emphasized that his action goes beyond personal loss, aiming to hold civic authorities responsible for ensuring public safety and maintaining proper infrastructure.
Municipal Commissioner response
Municipal Commissioner Vikramaditya Malik stated that the onus is on the car owner to establish a direct link between the waterlogging and the vehicle’s damage. He also noted that several other cars used the same stretch of road without experiencing similar issues.
Malik added that the region experienced intense rainfall that day, with weather warnings issued in advance. He emphasized that waterlogging was widespread across the entire NCR, yet no other incidents of vehicles breaking down solely due to rainwater had been officially reported.
