New Delhi, July 28: Heavy rainfall lashed Delhi on Tuesday, leading to widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions and inconvenience to commuters across several parts of the national capital as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert warning of thunderstorms, lightning and intense spells of rain.
Several key roads and low-lying areas, including Connaught Place, Janpath, Bharat Mandapam Road, Barakhamba Road, Mathura Road near ITO and Kalindi Kunj, witnessed water accumulation following heavy showers. Traffic movement was affected as vehicles slowed down on flooded stretches amid poor visibility due to cloudy skies and strong winds.
Traffic congestion was reported from several major routes, including Greater Kailash-II, Hauz Khas, RK Puram, NH-8 near Shankar Vihar, NH-48 near AIIMS, Delhi-Noida Road, Kalindi Kunj and Vikas Marg.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj shared visuals from Sadar Bazar showing streets submerged under waist-deep water, with schoolchildren and commuters seen moving through flooded areas.
Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, however, shared a video from Minto Bridge, claiming traffic movement remained smooth despite the heavy downpour. He said efforts were being made to ensure that the monsoon season did not become a source of inconvenience for residents.
According to rainfall data, Pusa recorded the highest precipitation between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm at 80 mm, followed by Janakpuri at 72 mm, Lodi Road at 63.4 mm, Chhatarpur at 57.5 mm and Safdarjung at 51 mm. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was recorded at 25.5 degrees Celsius, around 1.8 degrees below normal.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said it received and resolved 38 rain-related complaints during the spell of heavy rainfall. These included 19 cases of waterlogging, six incidents of tree falls and 13 complaints related to power outages.
The complaints were reported from areas such as Gole Market, Janpath, Connaught Place, Lodhi Colony, Sarojini Nagar and South Avenue.
NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal inspected vulnerable locations and said emergency response teams were activated following the IMD alert. He claimed that traditionally waterlogging-prone areas, including Bharti Nagar, Golf Links, Minto Bridge and Mother Teresa Crescent, did not witness major water accumulation.
The civic body said its teams from civil, drainage, sewerage, horticulture and electrical departments remained deployed across the NDMC area. Horticulture teams cleared fallen trees from Janpath, Teen Murti Lane, Gole Market, Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Bharat Vikas Path near India Gate as part of the emergency response.
