Rainwater drained out, zoo reopens

After remaining closed for two consecutive days due to heavy waterlogging, the National Zoological Park reopened for visitors on Monday.

After remaining closed for two consecutive days due to heavy waterlogging, the National Zoological Park reopened for visitors on Monday.

HT Image

Following the rains since Thursday night, large areas of the park — popularly known as Delhi zoo — were inundated. Friday morning’s heavy downpour added to the woes, further making it impossible to drive through, forget walking on its designated pathways. Several animal enclosures too were flooded.

After Friday, when the zoo is closed every week, it remained closed on Saturday and Sunday, as even after rain stopped, most of the areas were flooded with water. Waterlogging inside the zoo premises was due to lack of proper drainage system.

Citing visitors’ safety, the zoo administration had shut down the zoo for visitors.

Pumps were run 24X7 to drain out the excess water. Zoo director AK Agnihotri told HT, “We re-opened the zoo today after draining out the water completely.” The administration had to shift animals to safe locations to avoid water logging in their enclosures.