Heavy rains battered parts of Delhi and adjoining areas of Noida and Gurugram leading to waterlogging and traffic congestion in the city even as commuters struggled to wade through knee deep waters.
The incessant downpour led to waterlogging in the arterial junctions of the city. Areas including Mundka, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh, Mehrauli-Badarpur road, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Khanpur, ITO, Jahangirpuri, Safdarjung, Kashmere Gate ISBT and Okhla Estate were left indudated after the showers causing slow traffic movement.
According to the India Meteorological Department, city’s primary weather station Safdarjung recorded 11 mm of rainfall, Ayanagar 53 mm of rainfall, Delhi University 23.5 mm of rainfall, Lodi road 7.8 mm of rainfall, Narela 36 mm of rainfall, Palam 8 mm of rainfall, Ridge 17 mm of rainfall, Pitampura 6.5 mm of rainfall, Pragati Maidan 15.9 mm of rainfall, Pusa 0.5 mm of rainfall, Rajghat 15.9 mm of rainfall and Mayur Vihar’s Salwan public school 6.5 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8 am on Thursday.
While commuters appreciated relief from humid weather and better air quality due to rains, they complained about huge traffic jams witnessed in different parts of the city.
Delhiites travelling in the evening from their office back home said that they were left frustrated with civic infrastructure that they said collapses within minutes of rainfall in the national capital. “Rain brings relief from heat and humidity but traffic jams spoil the mood. It spoils the fun of enjoying the weather completely, especially in Delhi,” a commuter said.
Another one complained of potholes and waterlogging on the roads while holding the government accountable for not solving the problems of the normal citizens. He said, “Repairing of existing highways, colonies, city roads are more necessary than making a new delhi- Mumbai highway costing 1.00 lakh crore. Public is already suffering due to heavy rain even as big potholes make daily life more risky. The government is not looking towards these problems. Delhi Noida traffic is the worst.”
A commuter said that he covered five kilometers of stretch in an hour due to the rain. “Slight rain and everything falls apart. Total chaos, unruly behaviour, no traffic police to control and we talk about Indias’ decade. All gimmicks. This is the capital of India,” she said, adding that what was once smooth, well-maintained streets are now flooded after every rain, eroding the road surface and leaving behind a mess that the authorities have failed to address.
