LG Sandhu orders war-footing response to waterlogging

Delhi Lt Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday said he has directed senior officers to treat waterlogging in the national capital as a “disaster” and mount a war-footing response. The LG, who held a meeting with senior officers to review the situation late Tuesday evening, called for a ‘whole-of-government’ approach and asked departmental and agency heads to remain present on the ground to ensure swift redressal of citizens’ complaints.

The directions came after several weather stations in Delhi recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall on Tuesday, leaving roads waterlogged and traffic gridlocked. It was the capital’s wettest August day in two years. “Directed that the situation be treated as a disaster requiring a war-footing response, with a ‘whole of government’ approach and every department and agency working in complete synergy rather than in silos,” Sandhu said in a post on X on Wednesday. He directed that all heads of departments be physically present on the streets during waterlogging situations to personally oversee remedial measures on the spot, rather than monitoring the situation from their offices.

He made it clear that his office would closely monitor the situation going forward, and cautioned that senior officers and all ranks of engineers must match, and not lag behind, the level of presence and accountability already being shown by MLAs and Ministers on the ground.

The LG directed that all heads be physically present on the streets during flooding situations to personally oversee remedial measures on the spot, rather than monitoring the situation from their offices. According to the officials, the LG said that waterlogging must not be allowed to occur in the first place. He ordered that the installation of pumps be expedited on a war-footing across all vulnerable points in the city.

He asked officials to prioritise real-time redressal of complaints raised through the media, social media and other platforms and stressed continuous monitoring to ensure directions are implemented and visible results delivered on the ground.”Our priority and focus must remain clear: swift relief to citizens and a safer, better-managed Delhi,” Sandhu said.

Knee-deep water, slow-moving traffic and rain-soaked roads marked Tuesday in Delhi as the national capital received more than 100 mm of rainfall at several weather stations, making it the wettest August day in two years.

The Safdarjung weather station recorded 99.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Tuesday, the highest for an August day in two years. The last time the city recorded more rainfall in August was on August 1, 2024, when Safdarjung received 107.6 mm.

Waterlogging was reported across several key parts of Delhi as rainwater accumulated on roads and at major junctions.

In central Delhi, waterlogging was reported on Ashoka Road, Raisina Road and Parliament Street. Waterlogging was also reported around the Parliament complex.

Stretches near RML Hospital, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Connaught Place were also affected, adding to the difficulties for commuters navigating the busy central Delhi roads. Water also accumulated around the Supreme Court and AIIMS, with vehicles struggling to make their way through flooded stretches. In some places, riders were seen helping pull vehicles through the accumulated water, highlighting the impact of the rain on traffic movement.