Delhi Records Highest One-Day Rainfall In Two Decades As Downpour Brings City To A Crawl

New Delhi: The season’s first spell of heavy rain threw life out of gear in residential and commercial areas in Delhi as the national capital reported massive waterlogging and widespread traffic snarls on Saturday. According to news agency PTI, Delhi recorded 126.1 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, highest in a day after 133.4 mm on July 10, 2003. As heavy showers lashed Delhi, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘yellow’ alert for Sunday.

Following heavy rain in the city, 15 houses collapsed and one person died, news agency ANI reported Delhi Fire Service as saying. As the downpour continued for hours, motorists and pedestrians had a tough time navigating the waterlogged roads, flyovers and footpaths.

Here are the key points:

• According to PTI, Delhi traffic department got 56 calls related to waterlogging, six over fallen trees and five related to potholes. The Minto Bridge underpass was closed due to waterlogging after incessant rain.
• According to police, waterlogging was reported from Pandav Nagar underpass, Purana Quila Road, Sun Dial Park on Ring Road, Sarita Vihar chowk, carriageway between Gate 6 and 7, Pragati Maidan on Mathura Road, Nizamuddin Khatta, Mayur Vihar Phase-2, Dwarka Link Road, NH-48 near Shiv Murti, Rohtak Road, Vikas Marg, the area under AIIMS flyover, under Moolchand flyover, MB Road, Mother Teresa Crescent-Sardar Patel Marg, area under Tilak Bridge, Najafgarh, among other places.
• Call regarding fallen trees were received from Jantar Mantar Road, Chandgi Ram Akhara, Amrita Shergil Marg, DDU Marg, Dhirpur Main Road and Mother Teresa Crescent.
• According to New Delhi Municipal Council(NDMC) data, five trees were uprooted and 11 incidents of broken tree branches were recorded in Lutyens’ Delhi.
• New Delhi Traders’ Association president Atul Bhargava said the “faulty” slope of Panchkuian road directs the rain water to Connaught Place leading to waterlogging there. He said no action has been taken by the civic authorities so far. “This was the first spell of heavy rain and many shopkeepers are trying to save their goods. The same scene was witnessed during monsoon before the COVID-19 pandemic,” PTI quoted Bhargava as saying.
• Delhi Traffic Police took to Twitter to inform the commuters about the traffic condition. “Traffic is affected on Aurobindo Marg in the carriageway from IIT towards PTS Malviya Nagar and vice-versa due to waterlogging. Kindly avoid the stretch,” it wrote.
• Meanwhile, all major drains were overflowing leading to waterlogging and inundated roads. “Due to very high intensity rainfall today in #NDMC and its adjoining areas between 12 Noon to 2.30 PM, all major drains are flowing with full discharge capacity resulting in excess water flowing on roads. NDMC officials are working tirelessly to get things normal very soon,” NDMC tweeted.