Delhi submerged: Heavy rain floods roads, paralyses traffic, hits flight ops

By 8.30 am Saturday, Safdarjung, which is representative of the city, recorded 78.7 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, while Pragati Maidan recorded 100.3 mm. Lodhi Road and Pusa recorded 80.7 mm and 69 mm of rainfall, respectively.

From 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, IMD data showed, Safdarjung recorded 26 mm of rainfall. Similarly, in the same period, Mayur Vihar saw 49.5 mm of rain, Ridge 40.4 mm, Pusa 32.5 mm, and Palam 22.7 mm.

Commuters, meanwhile, expressed their frustration.

Neeta, who was stuck near Ambedkar Nagar depot, said her car moved barely half a kilometre in an hour. “The situation was pathetic. I had to go to my brother’s home in Noida — a trip that usually takes 40 minutes — but it took me two hours,” she said.

Geeta Singh, a commuter from Saket, said it took her over two hours just to find a cab to Rohini. “The fare was double, and the journey took nearly three and a half hours,” she added.

Key routes clogged

The Public Works Department (PWD) received over 50 complaints of waterlogging throughout the day. Several prominent locations reported flooding — near the Pragati Maidan tunnel, Dhaula Kuan, ITO, MB Road near the Sainik Farm stretch, Sarai Kale Khan, Defence Colony underpass, Azadpur market, Peeragarhi Chowk, and near New Delhi Railway Station.

The Pragati Maidan tunnel was closed from 9 am to 12 pm as a precautionary measure. An official stated, “There was no water inside the tunnel, but water had accumulated near Gates 6 and 7. To prevent it from entering the tunnel, we closed it for traffic movement.” The water has since been cleared, and the road reopened to traffic.

PWD officials also reported that most waterlogged areas were cleared by early morning, and traffic was normal on major roads. “Some inner colony roads are still being cleared. Quick response teams were deployed at all critical points along with water pumps to manage the flooding,” the official added.

Meanwhile, Minto Bridge, which used to flood in previous years, remained clear, said officials.
In Kalkaji, the flooding of the Giri Nagar pumping station disrupted water supply to several areas, prompting the opposition AAP to criticise the BJP-led Delhi government over the incident and its handling of the broader crisis.
In a post on X, along with a copy of her letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, AAP leader Atishi wrote: “Mismanagement by the 4-engine BJP Govt has not only submerged Delhi roads, but caused a water crisis in Kalkaji. The Giri Nagar pumping station is completely submerged. And the people of Giri Nagar, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, and Govindpuri Extn are facing several days of water crisis.”

Taking note of the traffic situation, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory across several routes.

“Due to the Raksha Bandhan festival weekend and recent rains causing waterlogging at GTK Depot, Jahangirpuri, and Adarsh Nagar, traffic on Old GT Road is likely to be severely affected. To avoid congestion, commuters are advised to avoid taking Old GT Road. Delhi Metro services are operational and can help minimise travel disruptions. Please plan your route accordingly,” it said.

Traffic officials also said that due to waterlogging, the Zakhira Underpass is closed. “Commuters from Ashok Vihar, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Adarsh Nagar (Northwest Delhi) heading towards Patel Nagar, Karol Bagh, and Moti Nagar (West Delhi) are advised to avoid the Zakhira underpass.”

“Instead, from Inderlok, take a left turn towards Road No. 40, take a right turn towards Swami Narayan Marg. Then take New Rohtak Road to reach Karol Bagh. From Karol Bagh, proceed to Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar (West Delhi) etc,” the advisory said.
On its X account, the Traffic Police stated that due to waterlogging at Azad Market Railway Underpass and Ram Bagh Road, traffic is affected in the surrounding areas. “Diversions are in place for vehicles coming from Rani Jhansi Road, Barfkhana, Pul Mithai, and Veer Banda Bairagi Marg. Commuters are advised to avoid the affected stretch and use alternate routes for a smoother journey.”

Traffic towards Gurgaon was also hit after a wall collapse at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s under-construction underground site near D-6, Vasant Kunj, beneath the Masoodpur Flyover, caused a section of Mahipalpur-Mehrauli Road — from Fortis Hospital onwards — to cave in.

The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) also received 18 calls related to house and wall collapses between midnight and Saturday evening. “We also received 9 calls reporting tree falls and two calls regarding waterlogging,” a DFS official said.

NCR fares no better

Incessant rainfall led to severe waterlogging in several areas of Noida and Greater Noida as well.

Noida’s Sector 62, Sarafabad, Mahamaya flyover, Expressway service lane, Baraula, and Sector 100 were hit. Commuters on the Noida-Dadri-Tilpata routes and Greater Noida’s main roads, especially around Surajpur and Bisrakh, also faced waterlogged patches and traffic disruptions.

In Ghaziabad, areas including Vijay Nagar, Crossings Republik, and Christian Nagar were affected.

Former Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam president Zakir Ali Saifi highlighted the situation outside the municipal office. Taking a jibe at the civic body, he said, “The Nagar Nigam has connected its office to the Hindon River. Now, anyone coming here with a complaint can arrive by boat or ship.”

In Gurgaon, teams were on the ground to clear out water. “The rainfall wasn’t very intense, and we have not received any complaints of large-scale waterlogging,” a spokesperson for the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram said.

The city saw 7 mm of rain from 8 am on Friday to 8 am Saturday, while Sohna saw 12 mm. No major instances of waterlogging were witnessed.

Faridabad, on the other hand, saw 52 mm of rain during the same period.

Stories For You

India welcomes Trump-Putin meeting on Aug 15: ‘Ready to support’

‘Rahul’s vote-theft charge doesn’t stand scrutiny’: At heart of row, Mahadevapura’s BJP strongman

First-ever freight train arrives in Valley, marks new era of logistical, economic growth