Sangam vihar flooded: Buildings collapse, drains overflow, residents struggle
Residents also alleged that clogged drains, ignored by the civic bodies, were the main cause of the water logging.
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Sangam Vihar in South Delhi was one of the areas worst hit by heavy rain on Friday
After a parched summer spent struggling for water, Sangam Vihar in South Delhi found itself flooded on Friday when rains lashed the area for the second consecutive day. Residents trudged through knee-deep water and blamed the poor drainage system in this large, unauthorised colony.
By 2 pm on Friday, most of the colony was partially under water. There were reports about 14 buildings collapsing, while belongings from various homes floated aimlessly in the water. The many open drains in the colony were completely obscured by the rising water level, and parents chose to keep their children at home. Cars struggled to make their way out of the colony to bring in supplies, many spluttering to a stop half-way.
“Most of the year, we have no water to drink. And during the monsoons, we have a problem of plenty. There is so much water and none of it drains out. The drains are clogged through the year and though politicians make their promises during elections, nothing ever comes of it,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident.
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A child was injured after a portion of a building in the area collapsed, police said, adding that he was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre and is currently out of danger.
The building collapse was symptomatic of the negligence by the authorities, claimed residents. “It’s been raining since Thursday and, as a result, one part of the building had become weak since water was collecting outside it. On Friday, it rained heavily and the water level kept on rising. As a result, a section of the building collapsed,” said Dilip Kumar, owner of the collapsed house.
On Twitter, AAP MLA from Sangam Vihar Dinesh Mohaniya admitted that “around 15 houses collapsed” in the rain and pleaded that packed food for 300 people was required urgently.
Residents also alleged that clogged drains, ignored by the civic bodies, were the main cause of the water logging.
“Right now, the water is up to our knees. If it keeps on rising, more houses will collapse and lives might even be lost. The drains aren’t cleaned regularly. Even when sanitation workers clean the area, they dump all the waste into the drains. It is mindless and it happens every year,” said Riju Kumar, a resident.
A South MCD official said that while it had information regarding the collapse of two buildings in the colony and reports of water-logging from various areas, it was unfair to blame the civic body for the problem.
“The problem is that the development in an area like Sangam Vihar has simply not been in tune with the growth of population. The population density is such that the drainage system can’t keep up,” he said.
20 dengue cases this year: south corpn
At least 20 cases of dengue have been reported in Delhi this year, according to a report by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).
The maximum number of cases was reported from South Delhi (7), while East Delhi recorded three cases. Another six cases were reported from North Delhi, the report said. The SDMC compiles the dengue and malaria report on behalf of all civic bodies in the city.
“While dengue cases are being reported, the number is expected to be lower this year as we have taken all precautionary measures to ward off the vector-borne disease,” a senior official of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation said on Friday. During the same time last year, 16 cases were reported.
After the report was released, officials of the Delhi government’s Health Department said they are intensifying their efforts to contain dengue this year. “Delhi had a very bad time with the disease in 2013 and 2014. We are working hard to ensure that this isn’t the case this year as well. Apart from awareness drives, we’ll work closely with civic bodies to ensure that all precautions are being taken,” the official said.
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