Torrential Rainfall in Delhi Leads to Fatalities, Widespread Disruption

Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in Delhi on Wednesday evening, flooding many parts of the city. A 22-year-old woman and her toddler drowned in Ghazipur, while major roads were clogged with traffic, leaving people stranded. The weather office included Delhi in its National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin and advised residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi announced that all schools in the city would remain closed on Thursday due to the heavy rainfall and forecast for more rain. "In light of the very heavy rainfall this evening and the forecast of heavy rainfall tomorrow, all schools both government and private will remain closed on August 1st," she posted on X.

Impact on Daily Life

The torrential rain caused significant disruptions across the city. In Ghazipur, Tanuja and her three-year-old son Priyansh drowned after slipping into a drain due to waterlogging while returning from a weekly market. The incident occurred near Khoda Colony, where a roadside drain was under construction.

In north Delhi's Sabji Mandi area near Robin Cinema, a house collapsed, injuring one person. Another incident in southwest Delhi's Vasant Kunj saw a woman injured due to a wall collapse. The heavy downpour also affected air traffic, with at least 10 flights diverted from Delhi airport to Jaipur and Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions.

Weather Data and Government Response

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Safdarjung recorded 79.2 mm of rainfall between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm; Mayur Vihar had 119 mm; Delhi University saw 77.5 mm; Pusa recorded 66.5 mm; and Palam observatory noted 43.7 mm. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena instructed officers to stay alert and address issues at waterlogging-prone sites.

The traffic situation was particularly chaotic on roads leading to Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. Old Rajinder Nagar experienced knee-deep water, affecting students protesting the death of three UPSC aspirants due to flooding in a coaching institute basement. Connaught Place saw water entering many showrooms and restaurants.

Traffic Disruptions

The widespread waterlogging prompted traffic police to issue an advisory asking commuters to avoid certain roads. Vehicular movement was disrupted on the carriageway from Moolchand towards Chirag Delhi, both carriageways on Anuvrat Marg, Outer Ring Road, Syama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, and Mahatma Gandhi Marg among other key roads.

Multiple areas like Kashmere Gate, Karol Bagh, and Pragati Maidan were marooned following the heavy downpour. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi received four complaints about waterlogging and three calls about fallen trees from different parts of the city. Power cuts were also reported across Delhi.

Localised Incidents

In Old Delhi's Daryaganj area, a school's boundary wall collapsed onto parked cars while the road beneath caved in. In South Delhi's Chhatarpur area, slippers floated on waterlogged streets as vehicles drove by. The Pragati Maidan tunnel also experienced chaos due to waterlogging.

The ITO intersection, Dhaula Kuan area, and the road towards the airport witnessed traffic snarls due to inundation. Rainwater entered the Press Club of India, where people were seen sitting in knee-deep water in a photo shared online.

Political Reactions

The BJP criticised the ruling AAP in Delhi over the situation, accusing it of negligence and mismanagement. Atishi responded by stating that the city government and MCD were closely monitoring low-lying areas and vulnerable locations to prevent any untoward incidents.

"There has been very heavy rainfall in Delhi in the last two hours. Delhi Govt and MCD are maintaining a close watch on low lying areas and vulnerable waterlogging locations, to ensure no untoward incident takes place," she said in another post on X.

The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius during the day. The IMD has predicted continued wet weather in the city until August 5.