Continuous downpour in Delhi slows traffic

New Delhi, Jul 30: Heavy rains kept the temperature below normal levels today even as waterlogging in several areas slowed vehicular movement inconveniencing commuters in the national capital.

"The minimum temperature recorded at 8.30 AM was 24 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal," a MeT department official said. Safdarjung observatory has recorded 12.9 mm of rainfall while Palam observatory 143.6 mm till 8.30 AM.

The downpour triggered traffic snarls at various intersections and busy roundabouts including ITO and Dhaula Kuan.

Vehicles moved at a snail's pace on several roads such as Mahipalpur Chowk, Rangpuri U-turn near Radisson hotel, Vayusenabad, Azad Market Chowk, causing hardship to the commuters.

Delhi Traffic Police took to micro-blogging site Twitter to caution commuters of congestion due to waterlogging and said the situation is likely to continue till tomorrow.

However, the roads connecting Delhi and Gurgaon on which long tailbacks were witnessed over past two days due to severe waterlogging on NH-8, witnessed better traffic movement today with no chock-a-block situation.

While the mercury has fallen due to rains providing relief from sweltering heat, the humidity levels have shot up to 95 per cent and the weatherman has predicted the rains will continue. "The skies will be generally cloudy.

Heavy rains will continue to occur in some areas of the capital and maximum temperature is expected to settle at 29 degrees Celsius," the official added. Yesterday, the minimum and maximum temperature recorded were 26.5 and 29.5 degree Celsius respectively.

PTI