A heavy downpour battered parts of Delhi on Tuesday morning, submerging major roads and snarling traffic during peak hours. Areas like ITO, Dhaula Kuan, Naraina, Patel Nagar, Vijay Chowk, Jangpura, and Rohini faced severe waterlogging, leaving commuters stranded and public transport in disarray. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 8 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM, with forecasts predicting continued cloudy skies and moderate rain, potentially pushing the maximum temperature to 30°C.
The deluge exposed Delhi’s perennial drainage issues. Kartavya Path, Rafi Marg, and Mathura Road saw long queues of vehicles, with social media flooded with visuals of commuters wading through knee-deep water. The Delhi Traffic Police reported diversions at key junctions, including ITO and Dhaula Kuan, though traffic flow normalized in some areas by mid-morning. Air India issued advisories warning of flight delays due to gusty winds and rain, with at least two flights diverted from Delhi’s IGI Airport.
The IMD noted a minimum temperature of 26.8°C, slightly below average, with 70% humidity at 8:30 AM. Despite the chaos, air quality remained satisfactory, with an AQI of 87 at 9 AM, per the Central Pollution Control Board. Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena urged officials to prioritize waterlogging-prone areas, including coaching centers, following recent tragedies like the July 2024 flooding in Old Rajinder Nagar, where three IAS aspirants died.
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The IMD’s yellow alert for Delhi-NCR forecasts light to moderate rain through July 30, driven by a monsoon trough over Bikaner and Kota. Public Works Department officials are addressing complaints, but critics, including AAP leaders, slammed the government’s unpreparedness, citing similar disruptions on July 10, when 60 mm of rain gridlocked the city. With 75% of Delhi’s drains desilted, as claimed by PWD, the persistent flooding underscores systemic infrastructure challenges as the monsoon intensifies.
[Sources: Times Now, Hindustan Times, Business Standard]
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