Heavy rain batters Delhi, sparks 136 complaints
Heavy monsoon rain lashed Delhi on Tuesday afternoon, triggering at least 136 complaints of waterlogging, uprooted trees and power outages across the national capital, with civic agencies rushing teams to restore normalcy. 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.
The complaints came from areas under the MCD, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), including Paschim Vihar West, Okhla Phase II, Vasant Kunj, Laxmi Nagar, Safdarjung Enclave, Daryaganj, Mayapuri, Punjabi Bagh and several localities in Rohini and Dwarka.
The MCD also received five complaints regarding dangerous buildings across the national Capital. According to the civic body, field staff, sanitary inspectors and other supervisory officials were immediately deployed to clear waterlogged stretches, remove fallen trees and ensure smooth traffic movement.
A PWD official said the department received around 60 complaints of waterlogging, most of which were resolved within an hour. Another 15 complaints related to fallen trees were also received and clearance work was underway, the official said.
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, all of which were attended to on priority.
According to an official statement, NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal inspected vulnerable locations, beginning with Africa Avenue, along with senior officials from the civil, roads, drainage, horticulture and electrical departments to review the situation on the ground.
The complaints were received from Gole Market, Shahjahan Road, Krishna Menon Marg, Golf Links, Janpath, Connaught Place, Lodhi Colony, Sarojini Nagar, South Avenue, INA and adjoining areas. The India Meteorological Department recorded 68.8 mm of rainfall at Lodhi Road and 57.6 mm at Safdarjung. Further, Palam received 27.8 mm, Ridge area received 40.6 mm, and Ayanagar received 51.5 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.
NDMC said emergency response teams were activated after the IMD issued a red alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. He said ensuring smooth traffic movement and uninterrupted civic services remained the civic body’s priority, adding that he reviewed the functioning of pumping systems, drainage arrangements and field deployments during the inspection.
The NDMC also said horticulture teams cleared fallen trees from Janpath, Teen Murti Lane, Gole Market, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Bharat Vikas Path near India Gate and Bhagwan Das Road, restoring normal movement in the affected areas.
Officials said civic teams remained on the ground through the afternoon to attend to complaints and monitor vulnerable locations as rain continued in parts of the national capital.
