On Saturday, Delhi reported six more rain-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 11 in just two days since the Monsoon began. Among the casualties, two boys drowned in a waterlogged underpass in Badli, while a 60-year-old man lost his life in Okhla after getting trapped with his scooter in another flooded underpass. Additionally, three labourers died when a wall collapsed at a construction site in Vasant Vihar during Friday’s heavy downpour.
The monsoon arrived in Delhi on Friday, with the city experiencing 228.1 mm of rainfall on its first day, marking the highest June rainfall since 1936. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for the capital, forecasting more heavy rainfall over the next two days.
The intense rain caused severe waterlogging across the city, including the Pragati Maidan tunnel, which remained closed on Saturday. Despite ongoing efforts by Public Works Department (PWD) officials, the tunnel’s draining process continued, with expectations of reopening late Saturday night.
In response to the widespread waterlogging, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) increased manpower and deployed additional pumps in areas like Golf Links and Bharti Nagar, which were particularly hard-hit. The NDMC also employed three super suction machines and enhanced staff presence, cancelling leaves to ensure continuous monitoring and quick responses.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, along with senior officials, inspected heavily affected areas, including Taimur Nagar and Kushak Nallah. During his visits, Saxena observed that many drainage systems were clogged with debris, exacerbating the flooding situation.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) also ramped up efforts by deploying mobile pumps, super sucker machines, and earth movers to clear waterlogged areas. The central control room of the MCD operated around the clock, coordinating these efforts to manage the crisis effectively. Despite ongoing challenges, officials continue to work on mitigating the impact of the heavy rainfall, aiming to restore normalcy in the coming days.
