Crowd dwindles at Maidan

Those who did turn up at the Maidan,preferred to stay close to the dais,the drier area.

The rain also washed away a week of hardwork put in by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to get the Maidan ready for Hazare’s protest. Rain water collected in small pits and formed muddy puddles across the grounds. Adding to the filth were discarded plastic bags,paper plates,plastic water pouches and posters,which had been strewn around the venue.

Some of the tents collapsed in the face of strong winds,exposing the carpets and tarpaulin sheets spread on the ground to rain. As the sitting space began to shrink,many moved towards Maidan’s periphary,which was higher in comparison. Organisers used buckets to drained water off the dias.

Bulldozers brought in by the MCD dug out temporary drains to allow water to flow out.

Police,meanwhile,closed all exits except one,leading to chaos as people were seen jumping over puddles to reached the exit gate.

Holding his five-year-old daughter’s hand,Ravi Prasad waited anxiously in the queue to exit the premises. A businessman from Chandni Chowk,Prasad said he did not expect such a melee at the grounds and had therefore brought his daughter along.

“Over the past few days there was no rain,so I assumed it would be fine. But,the situation here is really bad,” he said.

Meanwhile,the MCD has decided to put fresh earth over the puddle and level the ground with construction waste.

Subhash Arya,Leader of the House,said the agency will deploy pumps to drain out the water from the Maidan. On Wednesday morning,around 200 sanitation workers will be sent to clean the garbage at the venue.

“If it rains at night,we may have to postpone the plans,” said Arya.

According to the weatherman,5.1 mm rain was recorded in the city between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. More rainfall is expected on Wednesday.