Delhi experienced intense rainfall on Wednesday evening, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic jams, and multiple casualties across the national capital region. The downpour, which saw over 100 mm of rain in just one hour, prompted authorities to issue warnings and close schools for Thursday.
1. Rainfall and flooding:
♦ Parts of Delhi received over 100 mm of rain in a single hour on Wednesday evening.
♦ Delhi recorded 108 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest single-day July rainfall in 14 years.
♦ Severe waterlogging has been reported in many areas, including Old Rajinder Nagar, ITO, and Lutyens' Delhi.
♦ The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR earlier.
2. Casualties and damages:
♦ A 22-year-old woman and her 3-year-old son drowned after falling into a waterlogged drain in East Delhi's Ghazipur area.
♦ Three men were electrocuted near Gurgaon's IFFCO Chowk metro station due to a submerged live wire.
♦ A wall of a private school in Daryaganj collapsed, damaging parked vehicles.
♦ Several houses reportedly collapsed in parts of Delhi.
3. Traffic and transportation disruptions:
♦ Severe traffic jams have been reported across the city, particularly in the ITO area and Connaught Place.
♦ At least 10 flights diverted from Delhi airport due to bad weather.
♦ Multiple airlines, including Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, issued travel advisories.
♦ Underpasses, including the one at Minto Bridge, were closed due to flooding.
4. Government response:
♦ All schools in Delhi, both government and private, were ordered to close on Thursday.
♦ Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena urged officials to remain alert and address waterlogging issues.
♦ Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) teams were deployed to manage waterlogging.
♦ AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak visited waterlogged areas with MCD teams.
तेज़ बारिश में Old Rajinder Nagar और Karol Bagh में लोगों को जलभराव से राहत देने के लिए खुद सड़क पर उतरे MLA @ipathak25 जी।
आम आदमी पार्टी जनता को जल्द से जल्द जलभराव की समस्या से राहत दिलाने का हर सम्भव प्रयास कर रही है। pic.twitter.com/MxZCkQs8Am— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 31, 2024
5. Weather forecast:
♦ IMD predicts intermittent showers to continue in Delhi until August 5.
♦ Clouds reportedly converged over Delhi "from all four sectors," according to the weather office.
6. Impact on daily life:
♦ Visuals showed people wading through waist-deep water in some areas.
♦ Shopkeepers in Chandni Chowk reported their wares floating in accumulated water.
♦ Reports of trees falling came in from several parts of the capital.
♦ Protesters in Old Rajinder Nagar, demonstrating against recent deaths due to waterlogging, continued their protest despite knee-deep water.
Previous context:
♦ The incident brings back memories of recent flooding at a coaching center in Rajinder Nagar, where three students lost their lives.
♦ Questions were raised about the city's drainage system and preparedness for monsoon rains.
For more on this, click: UPSC Delhi Coaching Centre Flooding
Parliament Building Controversy:
♦ Videos are circulating of water leakage in the new Parliament building lobby.
♦ Opposition MPs criticise the government over the incident:
♦ A motion to adjourn the Lok Sabha was made by Congress MP Manickam Tagore.
♦ Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav suggested moving proceedings to the old Parliament building.
Political reactions:
→ Akhilesh Yadav referred to the leak as a "water dripping programme."
इस नई संसद से अच्छी तो वो पुरानी संसद थी, जहाँ पुराने सांसद भी आकर मिल सकते थे। क्यों न फिर से पुरानी संसद चलें, कम-से-कम तब तक के लिए, जब तक अरबों रुपयों से बनी संसद में पानी टपकने का कार्यक्रम चल रहा है।
जनता पूछ रही है कि भाजपा सरकार में बनी हर नई छत से पानी टपकना, उनकी… pic.twitter.com/PpJ36k6RJm— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 1, 2024
→ Opposition members questioned the quality of the new building's construction.
Context:
- May 28, 2023 marked the official opening of the new Parliament building.
- It's part of the Rs 20,000 crore Central Vista Redevelopment Project.
- The building cost Rs. 862 crore to construct.
The sudden deluge has once again highlighted the city's vulnerability to heavy rains, with residents and commuters facing significant challenges due to waterlogging and traffic disruptions. As authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, the incident has sparked debates about urban planning and disaster preparedness in the national capital.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Source
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