NEW DELHI – India's capital awoke on Thursday to widespread flooding, uprooted trees, and a tragic building collapse that claimed three lives. Heavy overnight rainfall left vast sections of Delhi submerged, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the day, forecasting further downpours, thunderstorms, and lightning.
Fatal Building Collapse Amid Deluge
The most severe incident occurred in Rohini, where a four-story building, still under construction, collapsed under the relentless rain. This devastating event resulted in three fatalities, with emergency services responding to the scene.
Significant Rainfall Recorded
Weather stations across Delhi reported substantial rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday morning. The primary Safdarjung observatory recorded 72.6 mm of rain, while Lodhi Road received 80.2 mm. Ridge, Palam, and Ayanagar also saw significant precipitation, with 77.8 mm, 63 mm, and 57.4 mm respectively.
City Streets Submerged
Waterlogging transformed numerous key areas into miniature lakes, severely impacting daily life. Reports of knee-deep water came from Sadar Bazar, Greater Kailash, Badarpur, Nasirpur, and Mahavir Bazar. Other heavily affected zones included Swarup Nagar, Kushak Road, Munirka, Dwarka, Vikas Marg, and East Delhi, alongside the vicinity of the New Delhi Railway Station. Visuals circulating from across the city depicted vehicles struggling through submerged roads and commuters wading through the deep floodwaters.
Traffic Chaos and Disruptions
The morning rush hour was severely impacted, with traffic grinding to a halt on several major arteries. The Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Delhi-Noida Expressway, and National Highway-48 near Dhaula Kuan, Mahipalpur, and Rajokri experienced massive congestion. Reduced visibility combined with standing water compounded the travel delays. Additionally, two trees were uprooted in East of Kailash, briefly blocking roads near the ISKCON temple and the National Heart Institute before clearance teams could intervene. No injuries were reported from these incidents.
Civic Response and Regional Impact
Delhi's civic agencies were inundated with complaints concerning waterlogging, fallen trees, and power outages. Emergency teams have been deployed across the capital to manage the situation and restore normalcy. The heavy rainfall also extended its impact to neighboring Gurugram, where flooded roads led to stranded vehicles and significant congestion on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway and other local routes.
Monsoon Trough Shift Blamed
The IMD has attributed the widespread and intense rainfall over the past two days to the northward shift of the seasonal monsoon trough towards the Himalayan foothills. Weather officials anticipate that Delhi will continue to experience widespread rainfall until this weather system moves further north.