‘Every year, the same thing happens’: Rain lays bare Delhi’s civic gaps, again

Residents raised questions about the government’s preparedness despite repeated assurances. Many missed meetings, and school buses were also stuck in the jam.

As children waded in knee-deep water in Sangam Vihar, shops were forced to close after being flooded in Sadar Bazaar and traffic came to a near-halt in Zakhira underpass and Rohtak Road, heavy rain on Monday once again laid bare infrastructural gaps and government failure across the Capital.

Traffic moves slowly through a waterlogged stretch on Ghazipur Road during heavy monsoon rain in New Delhi. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO)

Nearly all districts of the city reported waterlogging, including on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Mahipalpur flyover, and Mahadev Road; in Sainik Farms, Mahipalpur, Kamla Nagar, Vasant Kunj, Krishna Nagar, Kirari, New Ashok Nagar Metro station, Bhalswa Metro Apartment,; and even near Connaught Place, ITO and the Supreme Court.

At an underpass leading towards the Indira Gandhi International Airport, water levels rose to around one to 1.5 feet, making it difficult for motorists to pass. Vehicles also negotiated deep water around, with multiple cars stranded. In central Delhi, shopkeepers at one of the largest wholesale markets in the country said they suffered losses because of the flooding.

“Sadar Bazaar has been a mess this year. Even today, the Teliwara area was badly impacted. We tried to save whatever we could by rushing to the store but some of the dry fruit bags kept on the floor got wet and will have to be sold cheaper even after drying,” said Sunil Srivastava who has a dry fruits store near Mithai Pul.

‘Every year, the same thing happens’

Residents raised questions about the government’s preparedness despite repeated assurances that drains have been desilted and measures taken to prevent waterlogging.

“Every year the same thing happens. Before the monsoon, there are claims that drains have been cleaned and arrangements have been made. Then one proper spell of rain comes and the roads are flooded again. I could not go to the office today as I would have to wade through water in formal clothes to reach my car that was partially underwater,” said Praneet Singh, a resident of south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar.

Rajinder Prashad (67), a resident of Mukeem Pura in north Delhi, said, “Every time it rains, they get inundated. Areas such as the Sabzi Mandi Chowk experienced bad traffic jams. It becomes extremely difficult for me to even walk in the street in front of my own house.”

As a result, commuters also faced bumper-to-bumper traffic snarls on key arterial routes, including the Ring Road’s stretches between Sarai Kale Khan-Lajpat Nagar via Ashram Chowk, South Extension- Safdarjung Hospital, and near Dhaula Kuan. Similarly, the stretch between Nehru Place and Okhla, and Chirag Delhi and Munirka via the IIT flyover on the Outer Ring Road remained choked. A fallen tree branch near Panchsheel Park added to the traffic chaos on the ORR.

Many missed important meetings, and buses carrying schoolchildren were also stuck in the jam.

“I left my Sainik Farm’s Raju Park residence in my car around 11am, hoping to reach Noida by 12.30pm. But the traffic situation was so bad that I could only cover 1km in an hour and a half. I had no choice but to return home,” said 37-year-old interior designer Shahbaz Khan.

In a separate incident in central Delhi, around 11.22am, a portion of a building collapsed around Delhi Gate in old Delhi. Police said no one was injured, though around three to four scooters and motorcycles were damaged. The building was found to be in a dilapidated condition, and the MCD had already issued a notice regarding its condition, according to police.