Heavy rain brings Delhi to screeching halt as roads becomes rivers

NEW DELHI: The heavy rainfall Delhi witnessed on Wednesday, July 31, brought the national capital to a screeching halt as roads turned into rivers. Heavy rain choked some of the key stretches in the city, due to which people were stuck on the roads for hours.

Expecting another spell of heavy showers, Atishi, Minister for Education, Government of Delhi, announced that the schools would remain closed on Thursday. She posted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “In light of the very heavy rainfall today evening and the forecast of heavy rainfall tomorrow, all schools—government and private—will remain closed tomorrow, 1^st August.”

The recent spell of rain led to severe waterlogging in several locations, including Zakhira Underpass, Okkhla Underpass, Minto Bridge, IP Marg, Moolchand, etc. This caused heavy traffic jams as vehicles were merely crawling on roads across the city. Traffic Police also issued an advisory telling people to avoid the Minto Road underpass.

Considering the intensity of rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was compelled to issue a ‘red’ alter for the capital city. The primary weather station in Delhi, located in Safdarjung, reported 79.2 millimetres of rainfall in just three hours (5.30 pm to 8.30 pm). Similarly, Mayur Vihar Area reported 119 mm of rainfall; Delhi University reported 77.5 mm, Pusa reported 66.5 mm, and Palam reported 43.7 mm.

Interestingly, the Old Rajendra Nagar area, where three students lost their lives in a similar spell of rain on July 27, was again submerged underwater. The area that was cordoned off just outside the coaching institution, in whose basement the students lost their lives, was seen to have severe water logging after rain on July 31.

Apart from that, a house also collapsed in north Delhi’s Sabzi Mandi area. Trucks of the Delhi Fire Service were rushed to the incident after receiving the call around 9 pm. Overall, the Public Works Department (PWD) received 35 calls reporting severe waterlogging in their area. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also received four complaints of waterlogging and three regarding falling trees.