Rain brings cheer but exposes authorities’ lack of preparedness

Though the rain has brought respite to denizens, it has again exposed the lack of preparedness of the authorities concerned. Commuters,   especially office-goers, were caught in massive snarls – reported from across the  national Capital. 

Long tailbacks, caused by waterlogging in several areas, have once again exposed the tall claims of the authorities concerned. 

According to records provided by the Delhi Traffic Police, South Delhi was the worst-affected area after the  rain. The first severe congestion was reported from Dhaula Kuan around <g data-gr-id="71" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAKklEQVRYhe3OQQEAIAgEsMM6xrMb9SQGny3B6vb7AQAAAFad7QAAAACQDAGHAlfrnYEmAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWNY/ejYfyYGBgYGABiLA1VQQvxSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">7am</g>. Within one hour, areas such as Munirka, Vasant Kunj and the entire Nelson Mandela Road were reported to be in choc-a-block condition. By 8:<g data-gr-id="69" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAKklEQVRYhe3OQQEAIAgEsMM6xrMb9SQGny3B6vb7AQAAAFad7QAAAACQDAGHAlfrnYEmAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWNY/ejYfyYGBgYGABiLA1VQQvxSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">30am</g>, it was the BRT’s turn and traffic was thrown out of gear near Khanpur. Meanwhile, the crisis at Dhaula Kuan turned worse.

Officials said that around 8.45am the Delhi Traffic Police’s helpline number was bombarded with phone calls from commuters stuck at Palam. A massive jam was reported from the Palam Flyover, connecting Dwarka, and the Airport approach road. Even within Dwarka sub-city, Sector 21 and areas around it witnessed the worst snarls.

Long tailbacks were reported at the 6-km-long BRT stretch and the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, especially near Ambedkar Nagar Depot where it is intersected by the BRT corridor, said a traffic police official.  

Traffic was also hit at Ring Road near Kashmere Gate, Central Delhi’s Pusa Road and Jhandewalan areas.

Waterlogging was reported from Chirag Dilli, Moolchand underpass, the stretch between Sarita Vihar and Apollo Hospital in Jasola, starting of Britannia Flyover, Saket Metro station, Munirka subway and Preet Vihar Metro station, making it worse for the already clogged Vikas Marg, said a traffic official.

Later in the day, the Municipal Corporations said that Raad Nagar, Kalkaji, Chhatarpur, Malviya Nagar and Neb Sarai in South Delhi, Madhu Vihar in East Delhi, and Rohini Sector-11 in North Delhi were inundated. 

People reported waterlogging problem near the Sarita Vihar underpass, South Extension and Model Town areas.

Earlier this year, the Delhi Traffic Police had formed a special team, which had identified 200-odd areas in the national Capital that often  get waterlogged after showers. Civic agencies were reported about it and asked to take care of the situation before <g data-gr-id="67" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAKklEQVRYhe3OQQEAIAgEsMM6xrMb9SQGny3B6vb7AQAAAFad7QAAAACQDAGHAlfrnYEmAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWNY/ejYfyYGBgYGABiLA1VQQvxSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">monsoon</g> arrived, said a senior traffic official. 

Around three days ago,  the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had announced setting up of five control rooms in areas under its jurisdiction to tackle waterlogging woes. The control rooms shall function till September 30. The control rooms are situated at Sangli Mess, Khan Market, Netaji Nagar, Malcha Marg, Mandir Marg and Connaught Place.

“We are prepared for the monsoon and are ready to tackle waterlogging in areas under the corporations. We have de-silted drains and canals. Roads under the corporations are also being repaired,” said YS Mann, Director (P&I) of North and East MCDs.

Meanwhile, the weatherman predicted more showers on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Safdarjung observatory recorded 11.2mm rainfall. Areas under Palam, <g data-gr-id="58" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Ayanagar</g>, Ridge and Lodhi Road recorded 12.7mm, 16.4mm, 8.8mm and 14.4mm rainfall, respectively, in the last 24 hours, said <g data-gr-id="59" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAKklEQVRYhe3OQQEAIAgEsMM6xrMb9SQGny3B6vb7AQAAAFad7QAAAACQDAGHAlfrnYEmAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWNY/ejYfyYGBgYGABiLA1VQQvxSAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">an MeT</g> department official.

On Sunday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 38.4 degrees Celsius.