Heavy rains cause extensive waterlogging in Delhi; traffic movement affected

New Delhi: Heavy rains lashed Delhi on Sunday leading to extensive waterlogging and traffic snarls at several places in the city. The Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for Delhi, recorded 28.2 mm rainfall, while the Ridge station registered 126.8 mm rainfall from 8.30 am on Saturday to 8.30 am on Sunday, officials said. According to the Public Works Department, Yamuna Bazar, Khanpur, Rohtak Road, Lodhi Road, Azadpur underpass, Zakhira underpass, Shakti Nagar underpass, Kirari, Sagarpur, among others witnessed heavy waterlogging. PWD officials said nearly 20-30 waterlogging complaints were received in the morning, adding the workers are on the ground and waterlogging-related complaints are being attended to on priority. The police said they received waterlogging-related complaints after 8 am from the underpass of Patparganj Road, located near Mother Dairy, Yamuna Vihar, Malka Ganj, near Tis Hazari and Kashmiri Gate metro stations, Chaudhary Fateh Singh Marg, Munirka and Nangloi, among others. A portion of a road caved in at Mangolpuri following the downpour, affecting traffic movement in the area. “The road near Y-Block in Mangolpuri has caved in. The traffic will be heavy,” the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet. In another tweet, it said traffic has also been affected in Zakhira underpass, Azadpur underpass and Shakti Nagar underpass due to waterlogging. On way from Dhaula Kuan to AIIMS, a pothole was created on the Rajnagar (Sarojini Nagar) flyover, due to which the traffic will be heavy, police mentioned in one of its tweets. “The carriageway from Mukarba Chowk to Azadpur is facing problem of water logging. As a result, only one carriageway out of four is functioning that too with difficulty. To avoid congestion on this particular route, traffic is being diverted towards Outer Ring Road from Mukarba Chowk. The commuter may take Road No 51 to approach Azadpur and Adarsh Nagar,” the traffic police said in another tweet. The police said there was road sinking incident on Aurbindo Marg at IIT red light point on Saturday but now, it has been filled up by PWD department. According to the recommendation of the PWD, the road has been opened for traffic movement. Only right turn for traffic coming from AIIMS side is still closed due to continued repair work and presently no other traffic has been diverted, police said. The water level in the Yamuna increased again and was recorded at 205.30 meters on Sunday morning, just below the danger mark of 205.33 meters. According to officials, over 100 families living in the Yamuna floodplains have been moved to higher areas over the last few days. On Friday, the Delhi administration had sounded a flood alert and expedited efforts to evacuate people from vulnerable areas, as the river in the capital breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres amid heavy rains in the upper catchment areas. The water level was recorded at 205.30 metres at the Old Railway Bridge at 9 am. On Friday, the Yamuna had breached the danger mark and swelled to 205.59 metres by 9 pm. It had receded to 204.89 metres on Saturday evening.