Waterlogging in corridor draws criticism, Safdarjung Hospital says result of ‘construction work’

Official sources confirmed that inundation happened. However, they said the health services were not affected. “The waterlogging was caused due to an ongoing construction in front of the H-Block. It got cleared within some time,” an official said. The passage between the OPD and the new emergency ward of the hospital at the ground floor was affected, the official added.

The incident drew criticism against the largest Central government hospital in the city. “This is Delhi’s ‘premier hospital’ — Safdarjung! Patients instead of getting recovered, might leave the hospital with new illness,” a user wrote on X.

Another user wrote: “Despite collecting massive taxes, India’s healthcare system is crumbling—overburdened, underfunded, and inaccessible to millions. Where’s the accountability?”

A spell of heavy rain had brought the city to a halt in the morning rush hours on Tuesday. Several arterial routes were waterlogged, causing traffic disruptions. Safdarjung, the primary weather station in Delhi, logged 68.1 mm on Tuesday. This figure stood at 15 mm on Wednesday.

Even on Wednesday, the mayhem continued with waterlogging reported at a Government Girls’ School in Jama Masjid, among other parts of the city.

Former Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena, called out the BJP government. On her social media handle X she reposted the video of the school and wrote “Now waterlogging can be seen in school, after roads. Both children and education are in danger now.”

Meanwhile, Leader Of Opposition of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and AAP councillor Ankush Narang, staged a protest along with other party councillors in front of the Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh’s office, ‘demanding accountability for the worsening waterlogging crisis across the Capital.’ In the letter submitted to the Mayor, the councillors urged the formation of an expert committee to overhaul the city’s drainage system.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) between 2 pm and 6 pm received nine waterlogging complaints and two tree falling complaints.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, CM Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh had said that the authorities were responding promptly to all waterlogging incidents.

Reporter: Drishti Jain
Edited: Swati Bhasin