It might not be raining in Delhi at present, but the monsoon trouble trail is long. Closure of all major drains falling into the river has led to a flood-like situation in various colonies of north Delhi, where smelly drain water is flowing back into residential areas, in the absence of an outlet.
The Yamuna also lapped at the stretch on Ring Road between ISBT and Majnu ka Tila, causing traffic snarls.Water-logging was a nightmare for commuters crossing the road near Kashmere Gate, with the ISBT suffering too.
While some traffic jams were a result of the water-logging, some were caused by locals and passersby who wanted to enjoy the sight of the Yamuna near loha Pul. Many vehicles were parked near the bridge to see the gushing river. “It took me a complete hour to cross a mere 2 to 3 km on Ring Road. Traffic was literally crawling,” said Aman Kapoor, an executive working in an MNC.
Meanwhile, most of Outram lane between Hakikat Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar remained inundated with stinking drain water, which has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents complained of absolutely no aid from Government bodies. “Till Wednesday, water was entering our salon and there was a huge traffic jam. We were stuck for hours,” said an employee of a men’s salon.
“We had to clean the area on our own. All residents spent the entire night trying to take the water out of homes and colony. Our vehicles were half submerged,” said Kanishka, a Hakikat Nagar resident.
North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) director (Press information) Yogendra Singh Mann said, “We have installed pump sets in the colony and other areas where this problem persists. We are trying to pump the water back into the drains but it is not moving easily due to the pressure from the Yamuna.”
The entire Tibetan market is submerged in water, with helpless shop owners trying to face up to the situation on Thursday too.