5 Dead, Schools Closed as Delhi-NCR Grapples with Water logging
Heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening, leaving most parts of the city waterlogged and severely affecting traffic movement, stranding citizens for hours. The downpour claimed five lives: two in Delhi and three in Gurugram.
In response to the very heavy rainfall and forecast for more, Atishi announced on X that all schools, both government and private, will remain closed on August 1st.
In light of very heavy rainfall today evening and forecast of heavy rainfall tomorrow, all schools – government and private – will remain closed tomorrow, 1st August
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) July 31, 2024
In Delhi, a woman and her child drowned after slipping into a waterlogged drain. In Gurugram, three people were electrocuted after coming into contact with a high-tension wire following the heavy rain.
The torrential downpour caused the diversion of 10 flights scheduled to land at Delhi airport, with eight redirected to Jaipur and two to Lucknow. IndiGo reported ongoing delays in flight operations, which may continue through the morning.
‘We want to keep you informed that our departures and arrivals are still experiencing delays, which may continue through the morning. We understand that waiting through the night can be bothersome and inconvenient, and we sincerely regret the discomfort this may cause,’ the airline said on X.
#6ETravelAdvisory : #Delhi | We want to keep you informed that our departures and arrivals are still experiencing delays, which may continue through the morning. We understand that waiting through the night can be bothersome and inconvenient, and we sincerely regret the (1/3)
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) July 31, 2024
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, forecasting continued heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning in Delhi until August 5.
Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 79.2 mm of rainfall between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Other areas like Mayur Vihar recorded 119 mm of rain, Pusa 66.5 mm, Delhi University 77.5 mm, and the Palam observatory 43.7 mm. Delhi’s maximum temperature during the day was 37.8 degrees Celsius.
According to the police, Tanuja, 22, and her three-year-old son drowned in a waterlogged drain while returning from a weekly market in east Delhi’s Ghazipur area. The roadside drain was under construction and 15 feet deep. Their bodies were recovered, and further legal action is underway.
The heavy rain also caused a house collapse in north Delhi’s Sabzi Mandi area, injuring one person. Five fire engines faced traffic congestion while responding to the incident. In Vasant Kunj, a woman was injured in a wall collapse, and a private school wall in Daryaganj collapsed, damaging a nearby car.
Several key stretches of Delhi-NCR were submerged, including underpasses. Traffic was particularly chaotic in Lutyens’ Delhi and routes to Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. Old Rajinder Nagar was under knee-deep water, and water entered several showrooms and restaurants in Connaught Place.
Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory asking commuters to avoid certain roads and provided updates on road clearances on X. The weather department listed Delhi as an ‘area of concern’ in the National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin, advising citizens to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.