Delhi Rain: One day's rain in the capital became a disaster, and life was disrupted; four died and more than 70 injured

One person died in the first monsoon rain in the national capital due to the failure of various agencies. Similarly, more than 70 people were injured in various incidents related to waterlogging and rain, who have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment. At the same time, bungalows of army officers, central officers, and industrialists along with central ministers and MPs in Lutyens Delhi also came under the grip of waterlogging.

Two to three feet of water accumulated in their houses. The situation was such that senior SP leader and MP Ram Gopal Yadav reached Parliament from his house in an extraordinary situation by sitting on the lap of the employees and reaching his car. A similar situation arose with many other MPs. The home of Delhi's Water Minister Atishi, who was sitting on a dharna for water till a few days ago, also got flooded with rain and sewer water.

There was chaos of waterlogging everywhere. People in the embassies, high commissions, and state buildings were seen crying for help. The situation was such that even the NDRF had to come in for relief and rescue operations. Along with this, the roads around the Parliament were submerged and there was a discussion about waterlogging in Delhi inside the Parliament.

Delhiites are bearing the brunt of the failure of various agencies in the capital. More than 10 underpasses along with Pragati Maidan Tunnel and Minto Bridge were filled with five to seven feet of water, due to which not only did the traffic come to a halt, but more than 20 vehicles drowned in it.

Similarly, more than 100 DTC buses, trucks, cars, and two-wheelers got stuck due to three to four feet of waterlogging on various routes, due to which the problem of jams became more severe. Trees and fallen electric poles in many places increased traffic-related problems. Due to this many missed trains and air travel, while many patients were stuck in ambulances.

There was a jam situation on most of the roads of the capital throughout the day. There was a three to four-kilometer-long jam on GT Karnal Highway. Vikas Marg from Laxmi Nagar to Lutyens Delhi was jammed for hours. In such a situation, many people were seen traveling on foot. Roads also caved in at many places.

A pit of more than five feet was formed on the road near Vasant Vihar. Along with this, electricity was disrupted for hours in many areas of Delhi due to the fall of an electricity pole. From Thursday evening to Friday evening, MCD received complaints of waterlogging at 33 places and falling trees at 11 places.

At the same time, PWD received more than 150 complaints of waterlogging. During this time, other agencies including MCD and PWD came on the road and were seen making arrangements for water drainage with the help of pumps, while traffic police personnel were seen clearing the jam as well as removing the stalled vehicles.

Four workers were buried when a part of an under-construction house fell into the basement in Vasant Vihar. Police, NDRF, fire brigade, and other teams carried out rescue operations. Due to about nine feet of water in the basement, the condition of the workers could not be known till late evening.

On the other hand, a passerby died due to electric shock in Kiradi. Animals were also not spared by heavy rains. Wild animals got trapped due to water filling in the zoo enclosure. The rescue operation of the zoo administration continued till late evening to save them.

Water entered houses in many areas.

Water entered houses in Lutyens Delhi, Civil Lines, Model Town, Kingsway Camp, Delhi University, Kamala Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Nizamuddin, West Vinod Nagar, Turkman Gate, Karol Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Gulabi Bagh, Ashok Vihar, Rohini, Dwarka, Majnu Ka Tila, Gandhi Nagar, Kishanganj, Pratap Vihar and other areas.

Due to the breaking of the wall of the Nizamuddin drain, debris along with water entered the houses of the Jangpura area. This situation of waterlogging was more or less the same in thousands of colonies of Delhi, people kept struggling throughout the day. In some areas, water came out within three to four hours of the rain stopping, while in some places waterlogging remained till evening.

Waterlogging in the market, loss of crores

Shops in various areas of Delhi including Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Nai Sadak, Ballimaran, Dariba Kalan, Sadar Bazar, Khan Market, Kamla Nagar, Bhogal, Nizamuddin and other markets were flooded with water. Hundreds of quintals of grains kept in the open in Narela Anaj Mandi got soaked in water. It is estimated that due to one day's rain and waterlogging in business establishments, traders have suffered a loss of more than Rs 100 crore.

Waterlogging is the result of the failure of various agencies.

On Friday, Delhiites had to bear the brunt of last year's waterlogging due to gross negligence by the Delhi government's PWD, Delhi Jal Board, MCD, and NDMC. The rain that continued since late night not only washed away all the paper claims of cleaning sewers, drains, and sewers, but the water of drains and sewers crossed the road and footpath and entered the houses and shops, causing havoc.

The Delhi Traffic Police personnel were seen helping in smoothening the traffic and moving the stranded vehicles to the side. Similarly, the workers of PWD and Jal Board were busy draining out the water with the pump set.

There was a jam on these routes.

There was a jam on Vikas Marg, ITO, Ring Road, Rajghat, Mathura Road, AIIMS, Jangpura, Kashmiri Gate Bus Stand, Anand Vihar, GT Karnal Highway, Narela, Singhu Border, Kiradi, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Mundka, Badli, Sirsapur, Libaspur, KN Katju Marg in Rohini, Najafgarh, Hastsal, Uttam Nagar, Badarpur, Maharani Bagh and Sant Nagar and other major routes.