Amidst torrential downpours that crippled Delhi on Friday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor found himself facing a flooded home in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi. Sharing a video of knee-deep water outside his residence, Tharoor expressed frustration, stating that his entire home was submerged, rendering carpets, furniture, and anything on the ground ruined. He attributed the flooding to clogged storm water drains in the neighborhood, leaving no outlet for the deluge. Adding to the woes, Tharoor mentioned that electricity had been cut off since 6 am due to concerns over electrocution. Despite the challenging conditions, Tharoor managed to reach Parliament, remarking that he almost required a boat to navigate the flooded streets. He was quick to acknowledge the city’s efforts in pumping out water from the roads.
However, Tharoor’s experience brought about a response from a higher authority. Soon after posting the video, he received a call from Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena, who extended his courtesy and offered reassurance. Tharoor praised Saxena’s prompt action, stating that the Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the primary cause of the flooding – the lack of regular drain maintenance. Saxena pledged to address the issue before the next downpour, earning Tharoor’s respect for his proactive approach.
Meanwhile, the Delhi rains wreaked havoc across the city. A portion of the roof at Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport collapsed, resulting in one death and six injuries. The heavy rainfall forced residents to wade through waterlogged streets in several areas. The situation prompted BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi to stage a symbolic protest against the Delhi Government by rowing an inflatable apparatus in the NH9 area. In response to the crisis, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena convened an emergency meeting and directed officials to establish an emergency control room and deploy static pumps to address waterlogging reports. He also instructed that all senior officers on leave be recalled to duty immediately, with a suspension of leave for the next two months.
