Torrential rain battered Delhi on Thursday morning, transforming major roads into waterlogged quagmires and bringing traffic to a grinding halt across the capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘orange’ alert, warning of continued moderate to heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, posing further challenges for commuters and residents.

The IMD reported significant rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM, with Aya Nagar recording 57.4 mm, Palam 49.4 mm, Safdarjung 13.1 mm, Lodhi Road 12 mm, Pragati Maidan 9 mm, and Pusa 5 mm. The deluge dropped the minimum temperature to 23.6°C, 3.2 degrees below normal, with the maximum expected to hover around 32°C. Key areas like Lajpat Nagar, Rohtak Road, Anand Parbat, Jahangirpuri’s GTK Depot, Adarsh Nagar, Old GT Road, Mathura Road, and Dhaula Kuan-Gurugram road were severely inundated, disrupting the morning rush hour.

Commuters faced chaos, with one stranded motorist in Lajpat Nagar lamenting, “I was stuck for hours on Ring Road near AIIMS due to massive waterlogging. Traffic was at a standstill, barely moving in a single lane.” A DTC bus was stranded on the flooded Dhaula Kuan-Gurugram road, while cars and two-wheelers struggled through partially submerged stretches, with motorcyclists forced to wade through water. Similar scenes unfolded in Subroto Park, Dwarka Sector 20, Basai Road in Gurugram, and parts of Ghaziabad and Noida.

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The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories on X, urging commuters to avoid waterlogged routes like Old GT Road near GTK Depot, Jahangirpuri, and Adarsh Nagar, and to opt for alternate routes to bypass congestion. Meanwhile, AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for failing to address waterlogging, accusing it of neglecting court-ordered desilting of drains. “Gai bhains paani mein, humari car bhi paani mein hai,” Bharadwaj quipped, highlighting the government’s refusal to conduct a third-party audit of desilting contracts.

The crisis has reignited criticism of Delhi’s infrastructure and monsoon preparedness, with residents and opposition leaders demanding accountability. As the IMD predicts more rain, the capital braces for further disruptions, underscoring the urgent need for effective waterlogging management.

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