Monsoon Preview? Delhi’s Readiness Put To Early Test

New Delhi: The Friday morning storm challenged the preparedness of Delhi govt and municipality to manage huge downpours. The city slowed down after widespread waterlogging, particularly at the known trouble spots among which are Dhaula Kuan, Lajpat Nagar, Ring Road, Mundka and New Friends Colony. The underpasses at Kishanganj, Minto Road, Bhairon Marg and Azadpur too proved that any effort at improvement hadn't been sufficient enough.

Low-lying areas, backflow from sewer lines, choked drains and unfinished desilting put civic response to the test. PWD attended to complaints from over 150 locations, including Minto Bridge, ITO, Khalsa College, Nigambodh Ghat, Chirag Delhi flyover, Maharani Bagh, Ansal Plaza, IIT flyover, Satya Niketan, Sarai Kale Khan, Okhla Mandi traffic lights, Chatta rail bridge, Bhagwan Das Chowk, DCM Chowk and Filmistan. PWD officials claimed to have resolved 80% of the waterlogging problem within 20 minutes and that within four hours, all areas affected by water accumulation had been restored.

Minto Bridge, notorious for submerging every time it rains, went under again. PWD minister Parvesh Verma visited Minto Road and said four pumps nearby were being operated to clear the stagnant water. "From 5.30am, I visited many sites and took stock of the situation. At Minto Bridge, I saw that all four pumps were working and the operator was also alert. A pipe had burst and I directed its repair it. PWD, MCD, DJB, NDMC and irrigation & flood control department are clearing the drains of silt in preparation for the monsoons," Verma said.

Avtar Singh Marg, Burari Road and Panchkuian Road were submerged, their geographical disadvantage worsened by poor drainage. The drainage infrastructure also proved inadequate at other locations, among them Rani Jhansi Road, Filmistan, Qutub Road and Chelmsford Road.

Geetanjali Nigam of G Block, South Extension II, said commuting proved difficult. "Even the main road connecting with AIIMS was heavily waterlogged," she said on X. Expressing surprise at the waterlogging on the airport flyover in south Delhi, Sunil Kumar Singh too said on X, "It's shameful and a matter of concern for Delhi people and govt of Delhi. Waterlogging on Ring Road flyover leading to the airport, which is at an elevation of almost 6 metres above ground level, shows complete ignorance of the authorities concerned. May God save us!"

Chief minister Rekha Gupta wasn't happy to see the unsatisfactory conditions at Majnu ka Tila and adjacent areas in north Delhi. She was critical of the inadequate drainage network, clogged drains and damaged roads. On X, Gupta posted, "Delhi is in a very bad state and needs urgent improvement. It is an alarming situation, and all departments and agencies must take today's rain as a warning to begin addressing areas prone to waterlogging." She also said that govt had inherited this "mess" from the previous govt.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi reported 16 complaints of waterlogging from Vasant Vihar, Defence Colony, Pul Bangash, Fatehpur Beri, Shastri Bagh and Rana Pratap Bagh. "Staff were immediately deployed and the problems resolved quickly," said an MCD official.

Motorists also reported waterlogging on Najafgarh Road near Janakpuri Metro Station, Pankha Road (behind Dabri Mor Metro station gate no 3), Jantar Mantar, Subroto Park, Manju Ka Tila, Sadiq Nagar, Moti Bagh, Ramjas Road Karol Bagh, NIA headquarters, Pitampura, East Vinod Nagar Block A, and Rohini Sector 3 Pocket G-28. The underpasses at Dwarka, Kishanganj, Bhairon Marg, Azadpur, and Jwalaheri showed no signs of improvement, severely disrupting traffic flow, demonstrating that previous experiences did not lead to effective solutions.

In east Delhi, waterlogging was reported from various places, including Anand Vihar and Patparganj. Ravindra Singh Negi, BJP MLA from Patparganj, blamed AAP for this. "They were in power for 12 years, we, only for 65 days. But in these 65 days, we began the work of cleaning the drains. We will not sit at home like AAP did," he alleged.

After assessing the status of the flood-prone underpass on Africa Avenue Marg, New Delhi Municipal Council vice-chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, "This time, traffic was smooth on Africa Avenue Road. Four pumps are running, and we are pumping out all the water. We have also cleaned the sewer lines." He said NDMC received 61 complaints, 25 of them about fallen trees or branches, 12 for waterlogging.