The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the National Capital Region (NCR) after Delhi experienced its heaviest downpour on Friday. The alert, in effect until July 2, anticipates heavy rainfall across Delhi, Shahdara, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Noida, and Ghaziabad. The IMD predicts moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds, with heavier spells expected on Sunday and Monday.
The weather department also announced the further advancement of the Southwest Monsoon into remaining parts of East Uttar Pradesh and some areas of West Uttar Pradesh on June 29.
Friday’s heavy rains brought life in Delhi to a standstill, causing widespread waterlogging and impacting traffic movement. The downpour also led to tragic incidents, including the collapse of a roof at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport, resulting in one fatality. Reports indicate that six people have died in rain-related incidents, including two boys who drowned while playing in a rainwater-filled ditch in northeast Delhi, and a part-time laborer who drowned at a flooded underpass in northwest Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh area.
In response to the situation, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has instructed all senior officers on leave to return to duty immediately and has banned leave for the next two months. He has also stressed the need for immediate measures to alleviate the situation.
The Delhi government has established an emergency control room and quick response teams at the PWD headquarters to address waterlogging issues. Dedicated phone numbers have been issued for registering waterlogging complaints. Delhi residents can contact the PWD control room at 1800110093 or send a message to the WhatsApp number 8130188222 to report waterlogging incidents.
