Delhi-NCR experienced severe disruption on Friday as over 12 hours of incessant monsoon rainfall transformed major roadways into rivers, leading to widespread flooding and a complete collapse of traffic. The relentless downpour, which marked the third consecutive day of heavy rain, left vehicles stranded and residents struggling to navigate submerged areas.
Capital Records Heaviest August Start Since 2011
The scale of the deluge was significant, with Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recording 127 mm of rain by 8:30 AM on Friday, followed by an additional 77.1 mm throughout the day. By 8:30 PM, the total rainfall for August had reached 204.1 mm, nearly 90% of the normal rainfall for the entire month. This positions Delhi to record its wettest first eight days of August since 2011.
The extensive waterlogging caused chaos across the capital. From Mehrauli-Badarpur Road and Mahipalpur to ITO, Shakarpur, and Chhatarpur, commuters found themselves stuck for many hours. Some motorists abandoned their vehicles on flooded streets, while office-goers faced immense difficulty finding transportation. Water even entered Safdarjung Hospital, and the entrance to the Greater Kailash metro station was submerged.
Widespread Flooding in Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida
The impact extended beyond Delhi, with neighboring Gurugram and parts of Noida and Greater Noida also experiencing severe flooding. Gurugram endured its third consecutive day of major inundation, with the IMD reporting 172 mm of rain over 72 hours until Friday. Roads became impassable, and public facilities were disrupted, necessitating the deployment of pumps by local agencies.
Noida recorded 39 mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning. Specific areas like Pushp Vihar (147.5 mm), Chhatarpur (131 mm), Palam (88.7 mm), and Ayanagar (87.4 mm) reported exceptionally high rainfall totals between 8:30 AM and 8:30 PM on Friday.
Residents recounted harrowing experiences, with some wading through knee-deep water and others using makeshift rafts to ferry schoolchildren. Rameshwari Devi, 39, shared, “Even ambulances were stuck. What usually takes me an hour to get to work took me at least three today. When I returned home, I realised my lane and my house were flooded.”
Blame on Drainage Infrastructure, Official Response
Many residents attributed the recurrent flooding to poor sewage and drainage infrastructure, coupled with inadequate urban planning. Anantmala Potdar, an RWA president in Saket, voiced frustration, stating, “Despite everyone being aware that waterlogging is an annual problem, our complaints over multiple years have fallen on deaf ears.”
However, Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma claimed that waterlogging in major hotspots had been resolved, with inundation primarily affecting villages and rural areas where drainage projects are still in progress. He asserted on social media platform X that "monsoon in Delhi no longer means waterlogging, but is becoming synonymous with better management," despite the widespread reports of severe disruption.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the widespread rainfall to an active monsoon trough and predicted a decline in rainfall activity from Saturday, with light rain expected over the subsequent two days.