Delhi drenched, roads drown
Monsoon returned vigorously on Tuesday to several parts of north India, including the national Capital, ending a spell of heat and energy-sapping humidity.
The intense spell of rains, however, brought back the old woes of waterlogged roads and traffic snarls. Delhi, recorded its coldest July day in three years on Tuesday due to heavy rains.
Seeking a first-hand view of the situation, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta boarded a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus on Tuesday and carried out an extensive on-ground inspection as heavy rain, thunderstorms and dark battered the Capital, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to upgrade its warning and issue a red alert.
The CM began the inspection from Jan Seva Sadan and travelled by bus via Outer Ring Road and Madhuban Chowk to the DDA Sports Complex in Sector 33, Rohini.
“The roads of the capital are not merely a means of transport but are also an integral part of Delhi’s identity, making their proper maintenance and safety essential. I also directed that road widening, repairs of damaged roads, and the filling of potholes be taken up on priority,” the CM said.
Accompanied by senior officials, she travelled along various routes to assess the city’s on-ground situation during the monsoon and review key works related to civic amenities. During the inspection, the CM reviewed waterlogging-prone areas, the cleanliness of major roads, and the condition of debris and garbage accumulated along roadsides.
Relentless rain through the morning inundated several parts of the city, with waterlogging reported from Connaught Place, Janpath, ITO, several roads in Lutyens’ Delhi, Bharat Mandapam Road, Barakhamba Road, Mathura Road near ITO, Kalindi Kunj and other low-lying areas.
Traffic congestion due to waterlogging was also reported on NH-8 near Shankar Vihar, Zakir Hussain Road, the Delhi Cantt-Naraina Flyover-Mayapuri stretch, ITO, Old Rohtak Road, the Madhuban Chowk-Netaji Subhash Place stretch, Peeragarhi, NH-48 near AIIMS, the Delhi-Noida Road, Kalindi Kunj and Vikas Marg, among other arterial roads.
Continuous downpour has led to airlines issuing travel advisories for passengers, warning of potential flight delays at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
According to civic bodies, as many as 130 complaints of waterlogging, uprooted trees and power outages across the national capital. The MCD said its central control room received 36 complaints between 2 pm and 6 pm, including reports of 20 waterlogging and 16 fallen tree complaints from several parts of the city. Delhi Government’s PWD has received around 60 complaints of waterlogging and 15 of fallen trees, most of which were resolved within an hour. In the NDMC area, the civic body said it received 38 rain-related complaints, comprising 19 cases of waterlogging, six tree falls and 13 power outages.
