Heavy rains continued to lash Delhi on Saturday, leading to three separate drowning incidents that claimed the lives of three people, including two young boys. The incidents occurred just a day after similar drownings were reported, highlighting the dangerous conditions caused by the persistent downpour.
In the first incident, two boys reportedly drowned while playing in a rainwater-filled ditch near the Siraspur underpass. Delhi Police received a call about the incident at 2:25 pm and rushed to the scene, finding the underpass flooded. After conducting a search, the fire brigade recovered the bodies of the two boys. Police suspect the boys drowned while bathing in the water.
A separate incident occurred at the Okhla underpass, where a man drowned in the water while riding his scooter. Police found the man unconscious and sent him to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was pronounced dead.
These incidents follow two other drownings that occurred on Friday, where an eight-year-old boy, a ten-year-old boy, and a man in his 20s lost their lives in separate incidents.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Delhi until July 2.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has ordered all senior officers on leave to return to duty immediately. He has also directed that no leave should be sanctioned for the next two months. He emphasized the need for immediate action to alleviate the situation.
The Delhi government has established an emergency control room and quick response teams at the PWD headquarters to address waterlogging complaints. The government has also set up a dedicated WhatsApp number (8130188222) for residents to report waterlogging issues.
