Social media abuzz with video of man swimming on waterlogged road on Pumpwell Circle in heavy rain
Mangaluru: Pumpwell Circle, a bustling junction in the city of Mangaluru, underwent a peculiar transformation on Monday evening as heavy rainfall turned it into an unexpected swimming paradise. The persistent downpour, which commenced at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon, resulted in widespread chaos and left numerous individuals stranded at the circle, exacerbating the already severe traffic congestion.
Amidst the tumultuous scene, the attention of onlookers was captivated by a man who took to swimming in the waterlogged junction. A video capturing this sight quickly went viral, showcasing the man navigating the submerged area beneath the Pumpwell flyover, much to the amusement of the gathered crowd.
Amidst the spectacle, the individuals filming the incident could be heard expressing their astonishment and humor, remarking, "Swimming under the Pumpwell flyover, at Mangaluru Smart City."
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The issue of waterlogging at Pumpwell Junction has long plagued the city, causing immense difficulties for residents, particularly during the monsoon season. Despite repeated complaints from citizens, the problem of artificial flooding persists, even though the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has constructed drains beneath the flyover.
Shanthi Vishwanath, a local businesswoman who owns a shop at the junction, humorously commented on the situation, stating, "It took ten years to construct the flyover, but only a short spell of rain is enough to flood the entire junction." She further emphasized that the root of the problem lies not in the intensity of the rainfall but in the inadequate management of water flow.
The incident at Pumpwell Circle once again highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the persistent waterlogging issues in the area, ensuring the convenience and safety of the city's residents during heavy rainfall episodes.
First monsoon the famous pumpwell circle of mangalore turned into a swimming pool pic.twitter.com/a0r4S6i5Ss
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HC questions Delhi govt over failure to regulate sale of old vehicles, refers to Red Fort blast
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court questioned the city government on Wednesday over its failure to regulate the sale and transfer of used vehicles, while pointing out that in a recent bomb blast near the Red Fort, a second-hand car was used, making the issue more significant.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the Delhi government to file a detailed response on the issue of regulating authorised dealers of registered vehicles.
"A car changes four hands but the original owner has not changed. Therefore, what happens? That man (the original owner) goes to the slaughterhouse? What is this? How are you permitting this? You will take a call when two-three more bomb blasts take place?" the bench asked the Delhi government's counsel.
The bomb blast near the iconic Mughal-era monument was carried out using a second-hand car, making the issue even more significant, it said.
The court listed the matter for further hearing in January 2026.
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The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) plea filed by an organisation, Towards Happy Earth Foundation, highlighting the challenges in the implementation of rules 55A to 55H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, introduced in December 2022 to regulate authorised dealers of registered vehicles.
While the rules were intended to bring accountability to the second-hand vehicle market, the petitioner's counsel argued that they have failed in practice due to regulatory gaps and procedural hurdles.
The plea said there is a major gap in the amended framework, that is, the absence of any statutory mechanism for reporting dealer-to-dealer transfers.
"In reality, most used vehicles pass through multiple dealers before reaching the final buyer, but the rules recognise only the first transfer to the initial authorised dealer.
"As a result, the chain of custody breaks after the first step, defeating the very purpose of accountability," the petition said.
It added that because of these gaps, only a very small percentage of dealers across India have been able to obtain authorised dealer registration and in Delhi, not a single dealer has got it.
Consequently, lakhs of vehicles continue to circulate without any record of who is actually in possession of those, it said.
The plea said only a small fraction of India's estimated 30,000 to 40,000 used-vehicle dealers are registered under the authorised-dealer framework.
The petition also pointed out that the 11-year-old vehicle used in the November 10 bomb blast near the Red Fort was sold several times but was still registered in its original owner's name.
The blast near the Red Fort had claimed 15 lives.
