Sudden rain brought the national Capital and adjoining regions, including Noida and Ghaziabad, to a standstill on Wednesday evening with water woes, traffic congestion and major power cuts albeit there was respite for the residents who had been reeling for days from the muggy and sweltering weather due to high humid levels in the city.
While several areas suffered power cuts, loadshedding, at least 10 flights were diverted from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport between 7.30 pm and 8pm.
The city has been put on a red alert and the National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin has included Delhi in its list of ‘areas of concern’.
Due to the moderate to heavy rain lashing whole of Delhi and its adjoining areas of Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad, commuters witnessed traffic snarls on large stretches of road while going back to their homes from work due to waterlogging in several places including Chirag Delhi, Saket, Sainik Farms, Qutub Minar metro station, Chatta Rail Chowk, Minto Bridge, ITO, Janpath, Karol Bagh, Gaffar Market, Nauroji Nagar, Pant Marg, Nigam Bodh Ghat, Connaught Place and Mayur Vihar.
Rain on Saturday evening led to flooding in the basement of the Rau’s coaching centre which claimed the life of three IAS aspirants, rain on Wednesday caused waterlogging yet again outside the institute.
Local MLA Durgesh Pathak reached the site to make sure that the water is pumped out of the low-lying area.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena also took to social media and said, “Have cautioned all officers to remain alert in light of the ongoing heavy downpour in Delhi. Apart from ensuring minimum inconvenience to people, they are advised to specifically address issues at sites prone to waterlogging, including coaching centres.”
The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory to the commuters in a series of social media post, “Traffic is affected in the carriageway from Moolchand towards Chirag Delhi due to water logging at Chirag Delhi. Kindly plan your journey accordingly,” it said.
It also advised to plan one’s journey keeping in mind the waterlogging at places, including Railway Under Bridge, Ram Bagh Road, Azad Market, and Anuvrat Marg. Residents in several parts of the city also witnessed power cuts including Sainik Farms, Patel Chowk, Kalkaji and Laxmi Nagar among others.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier stated that the clouds have converged over Delhi from all four sectors resulting in widespread light and moderate rainfall with isolated intense to very intense spell of three to five centimeter per hour.
IMD advised people to avoid going to areas that face water logging problem often, check for traffic congestion on your route and be updated with weather warning.
“Moderate to intense spell of rain over parts of Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas very likely to cause slippery roads, low visibility, disruption in traffic and localised water logging in low lying areas,” the met department said.
Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature for the month this year, with the mercury settling at 39.3 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal. According to the IMD, the humidity level stood at 63 per cent at 5:30 pm.
The city recorded a minimum temperature of 30.4 degrees Celsius, 3.3 notches above normal. The met department has predicted a wet spell till August 5.
