Delhi faced severe disruptions on Thursday morning as heavy rainfall led to widespread waterlogging across the city, causing massive traffic jams and flight delays. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the affected areas and described the situation as “alarming.” She called on officials to treat this as a clear signal to address the clogged drains and other drainage-related issues that exacerbated the flooding.
The Chief Minister expressed her concerns after assessing the situation in Majnu Ka Tilla and other parts of Delhi. She pointed out that some areas lacked proper drainage systems, while others had clogged drains, making the problem even worse. “Delhi is in a very bad condition,” Rekha Gupta remarked, stressing the urgency of resolving these issues. She instructed officials to fix the drainage problems as soon as possible.
In addition to the Chief Minister’s inspection, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma also visited several affected areas, noting that unseasonal rainfall caused water to accumulate in various spots around the city. He visited Minto Bridge, where the four pumps were operational but discovered a burst pipe, which he ordered to be repaired immediately. Verma reassured the public that ongoing cleaning of drains was being handled by multiple agencies, including the PWD, MCD, DJB, and NDMC, in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season.
The heavy rains not only led to waterlogging but also caused other disruptions, including uprooted trees due to strong winds and a dust storm early in the morning. The Safdarjung weather station, Delhi’s primary observatory, recorded 77 mm of rain since morning, with other areas like Lodhi Road and Palam seeing over 70 mm. The rainfall also impacted air travel, with over 100 flights delayed at the Delhi airport due to thunderstorms and gusty winds.
The situation was further exacerbated by a tragic incident where four people, including three children, lost their lives when a house collapsed due to the rain and strong winds. Emergency services are continuing to assess the damage, while the city government has called for immediate action to prevent further loss and damage as the monsoon season approaches.
