Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – In an unusual but increasingly common urban development concern, a resident of Ghaziabad has served a legal notice to the local municipal corporation after his luxury vehicle suffered severe damage due to waterlogging during recent heavy rains. The incident, which took place on July 23, 2025, has sparked a heated exchange between the complainant and civic authorities.
Incident Overview: Mercedes GLA 200 D Damaged in Waterlogged Street
Amit Kishore, a resident of Vasundhara and a businessman by profession, was driving his Mercedes GLA 200 D (registration number DL2CAY1223) from Lajpat Nagar in Sahibabad towards Vasundhara on the morning of July 23. Around 10 AM, he encountered heavy water accumulation on the road connecting the two localities. The water level was reportedly so high that several vehicles became stranded, including his luxury car, which suffered severe mechanical and electronic damage due to water ingress.
Legal Notice Issued: Three Demands Put Forward
Holding the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation accountable for the damages, Amit Kishore has issued a legal notice to the Municipal Commissioner, outlining three major demands:
- Full reimbursement of repair costs incurred due to the damage to the vehicle.
- Compensation of ₹5 lakh for the mental distress and inconvenience caused.
- Immediate action to resolve waterlogging issues in Sahibabad, Vasundhara, and surrounding areas, including proper cleaning of drains and improvement of stormwater drainage systems.
Kishore has given the civic body a 15-day deadline to respond and take corrective measures. Failure to act within this timeframe, he warned, will result in further legal proceedings including complaints to the Lokayukta and a civil lawsuit in the High Court seeking damages.
Municipal Response: “Baseless Allegations” and Counterclaims
Reacting to the notice, the municipal corporation has pushed back strongly, questioning the legitimacy of the complaint. In its official response, the corporation labeled Amit Kishore a “professional complainant” and accused him of attempting to tarnish the image of the civic body for personal motives.
Officials further argued that the damaged vehicle bore a Delhi registration, and claimed that water levels on the road in question never reached a height capable of affecting the car’s engine. They emphasized that the municipality had undertaken timely pre-monsoon drain cleaning, deployed pump sets, and monitored rain-hit zones via drones. According to them, “no similar complaints were received from other residents.”
Owner Hits Back: “Smear Tactics to Avoid Accountability”
Unfazed by the municipal response, Amit Kishore issued a sharp rebuttal. He called the “professional complainant” tag both “baseless and unfortunate,” arguing that it reflects how public institutions react when an ordinary citizen demands accountability.
He further countered the argument about the car’s Delhi number, stating:
“Owning a Delhi-registered vehicle does not strip me of my rights while driving in Ghaziabad.”
He also disputed the civic body’s claim regarding the water level. “By the time the vehicle stalled, water had entered the engine,” he said, citing an authorized service center’s report that confirmed water-related damage.
Kishore made it clear that he is acting within his constitutional rights and will not hesitate to pursue legal options if the municipal corporation continues to deflect responsibility.
The Larger Issue: Urban Flooding and Governance
The incident has once again highlighted the fragile state of urban infrastructure in rapidly expanding cities like Ghaziabad, where unchecked development, clogged drainage systems, and reactive rather than proactive civic planning often result in chaotic monsoon scenes. Whether the legal notice leads to systemic changes or becomes another case buried under bureaucracy remains to be seen.
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