Heavy rains lash parts of Delhi leading to waterlogging; Rashtrapati Bhavan cancels Change of Guard ceremony

New Delhi: Delhi came to a virtual standstill after heavy rains lashed several parts of the national capital on Saturday, leading to excessive waterlogging and traffic snarls. [caption id=“attachment_5093441” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. ANI[/caption] Streets were waterlogged near the Civic Centre at Minto Road and also in Civil Lines area where various cars were seen half-submerged in water. “Waterlogging was reported at Iron Bridge Loni Road, Khajuri Chowk Wazirabad Road, Bhajan Pura Main Market Wazirabad Road, R/A Loni, Apsara Border, Yamuna Marg, IP College MGM Road Ring Road, Under IP Flyover Vikas Marg, Chatta Rail Lothian Road,” a Delhi Traffic Police official said. “Roads submerged following the rainfall included those under Modi Mill Flyover, Rao Tula Ram T-Point on the way to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Rajghat, Janpath, the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, to Lajpat Nagar market on Ring Road, Indraprastha Marg near the Delhi Police headquarters, Rajendra Prasad Road, GT Karnal Road, Minto Road and others,” he added. The traffic police has also asked people to avoid Delhi-Noida road towards Ashram where traffic was blocked after a bus broke down. The Rashtrapati Bhavan also had to cancel the Change of Guard ceremony due to heavy rains. “The Change of Guard Ceremony on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan will not be held today (1 September, 2018) due to heavy rain in New Delhi,” the President House tweeted.

The Change of Guard Ceremony on the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan will not be held today (September 1, 2018) due to heavy rain in New Delhi

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 1, 2018

The traffic was affected at Mathura road, Shershah road, Mathura road to Bhairon road, Purana quila road, Bihari colony, Maharashi Raman marg, Teen Murti lane, 11 Murti and Girdhari Lal Goswami Marg near post office due to excessive waterlogging. “Waterlogging was reported at Lajpat Nagar market, Pant Nagar bus stand and IP Marg near police headquarters. The traffic movement was closed on Bhairon road both ways due to waterlogging,” the official said. Delhi has received 61 mm of rainfall since morning and the weatherman has predicted the downpour to continue throughout the day. The Delhi Traffic Police is posting alerts on its Twitter handle to inform the residents about which routes to avoid.