Downpour distress

Lack of coordination between multiple civic agencies, zero preparedness had also forced Kerry to cancel his scheduled visits to three religious places, as the Capital was again brought to its knees with vehicles submerged and traffic standing still for hours.

If VVIPs had a harrowing time, think about the common citizens who have already started believing that the rains do not bring happiness, as the aftermaths make the commuters reel under woes. Be it motorists, passengers in DTC buses, or patients in ambulances; all were harassed after Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida yet again saw massive traffic jams on Wednesday morning. Delhi received season’s highest rainfall on Wednesday with the continuous downpour leading to waterlogging on major roads. The city received 63.1 mm rainfall as per the reading of the Safdarjung observatory while the Palam observatory recorded 55.6 mm rainfall, highest in this season.

The heavy rains on Wednesday flooded almost all the roads in the Capital and the underpasses along with areas under flyovers that were worst hit. As many as six low floor DTC buses were half-submerged in the deluge under Zakhira flyover and around 40 passengers including women and children were later rescued. More than five feet water was logged under the Zakhira flyover that led to huge traffic snarls and later the traffic was diverted to other roads. Similar situation was seen under AIIMS flyover, Pul Prahladpur underpass.

Traffic helpline officials told that they were flooded with calls of traffic jams and waterlogging across the national Capital. Many passengers missed their flights after getting stuck in traffic jams while reaching to Delhi airport and many flights were also disrupted due to heavy rain. As many as 11 departures and 13 arrivals were delayed.

Waterlogging was reported on the Ring Road, Dhaula Kuan, Bhairon Road to Mathura Road. Flooding was also reported in Lutyen’s Delhi at the Teen Murti roundabout. Areas near IGNOU, IP flyover to Sarai Kale Khan, Barapullah flyover towards DND, Ashram Chowk, Maharani Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, Raja Garden to Mayapuri were among other areas.

Almost all areas in Gurgaon were flooded again and waterlogging was reported in Noida as well. Meanwhile, many companies in Gurgaon have allowed their employees to work from home. Despite deployment of a huge chunk of traffic cops on roads to manage traffic, nothing much difference was seen. And the commuters still complained about the non-availability of traffic cops. As per the weather forecast, heavy rains are expected in the next two days.

Five persons, including two women and as many children, sustained minor burn injuries when they were struck by lightning during rain at Hiranke village in North-west Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar area on Wednesday morning.

The injured, identified as Kiran (37), her two sons — Himanshu (14) and Mohit (12), Sashi (30) and Jaikishan (35) had taken shelter in a field during the rain when the lightening struck them around 10.15 am, a senior police officer said. Police received information about the incident about 20 minutes later and rushed to the spot from where they sent the injured to Raja Harish Chandra Hospital in Narela. The victims, with minor burn injuries were stated to be in a stable condition.