After rain, ceiling leaks at Semicon venue, traffic comes to a standstill | Noida News

Noida: Heavy rain has not only submerged the friendly match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Shaheed Pathik Singh Stadium in Greater Noida, but also India’s Semiconductor and Electronics Exhibition at India Expo Centre and Mart (IEML), as persistent rain since Thursday caused leaks in the ceiling in parts of the venue and caused traffic chaos outside.
Executives and visitors from global companies such as micronNXP Semiconductors and Tata Electronics were among those participating in the three-day event, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Delegates said they had to seek shelter as water dripped from several spots inside the Expo site. Outside, foreign delegates struggled through flooded streets and entrances. As the weather worsened, attendance at the event dwindled.
Expressing concerns about the infrastructure of such high-profile industrial exhibitions, Devesh Kumar Sharma, Regional Manager (NCR), SCH Coating Solutions, said, “People were stuck in the halls and could not move between them. We paid extra for a booth near the entrance, but the door remained closed until the afternoon. The organizers could have handled the situation better.”
Narendra Upadhyay and Sharmila Mahatre, senior executives at Hind Rectifiers Ltd in Mumbai, said that while the leakage was not widespread, it was a cause for concern. “For a venue that claims to have world-class facilities, better precautions should have been taken. Though the leakage was not severe, we had to use small buckets (to keep the floors dry). Finding taxis outside the venue was also a big challenge,” Mahatre said.
Sukhbir Chauhan, managing director, Max Led Technology LLP, said he has visited several international exhibitions, even during monsoon, and everywhere the management was far better. “Moving between halls was a big problem. People had to run to avoid getting soaked. There could have been proper shelters. Another big problem was parking as many delegates had to park their cars outside and walk to their vehicles in the rain,” he added.
When contacted, Sudeep Sarcar, CEO of IEML, explained that the leak was due to condensation caused by temperature difference inside and outside the venue. “Condensation occurs naturally when there is a temperature difference, especially during rain. It can happen anywhere in the world. We have made extensive arrangements including e-rickshaws, golf carts, umbrellas and paved paths to help visitors move between the halls and the parking lot. Although we have provided thousands of umbrellas, it is inevitable that some people will still get wet while walking around. This is a normal occurrence.”
The event, he said, received overwhelming praise and set a record number of visitors. “Both the organisers and the Government of India were very happy and no major issues were reported. Our event staff worked closely with the organisers and ensured that umbrellas, covered walkways and transport facilities were available to help participants cope with the difficult weather conditions,” Sarcar added.