New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Torrential downpours brought large parts of India’s capital to a standstill on Friday, submerging major arterial corridors under several feet of water and leaving thousands of commuters stranded. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the city following intense rainfall that flooded key transit routes, choked traffic for hours, and inundated residential colonies across multiple sectors. Key thoroughfares including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Minto Road, ITO, Shakarpur, and Chhatarpur vanished beneath floodwaters, prompting motorists to abandon stranded vehicles and creating massive traffic jams extending for kilometres.
The severe waterlogging disrupted everyday life in both commercial hubs and residential areas. Along the Mehrauli-Badarpur stretch near the Air Force Station, water levels reached up to four feet deep, completely stalling movement between Khanpur and Okhla Mor. In low-lying neighbourhoods like Fatehpur Beri’s Valmiki Basti, floodwaters inundated homes, damaging household belongings and essential food stocks. Local residents were forced to transport schoolchildren across waist-deep waters using makeshift rafts made of plastic sheets. Public transit operators and e-rickshaw drivers reported vehicle damage and severe economic losses due to submerged potholes and hidden obstacles.
Civic agencies reported a deluge of rain-related distress calls throughout the day involving severe waterlogging, fallen trees, and localized power outages across multiple municipal zones. According to official data from the weather office, Pushp Vihar recorded the highest precipitation at 111.5 millimetres, closely followed by Chhatarpur at 104.5 millimetres. The intense spell marked the wettest first week of August for the capital since 2011, with total rainfall accumulating to 127 millimetres. The widespread disruption triggered intense political criticism from opposition parties regarding the adequacy of urban drainage infrastructure and seasonal desilting measures.
