The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a maximum temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung on Wednesday, 6.4 degrees below the previous day's reading and 5.8 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature settled at 25.4 degrees Celsius, also below normal, as widespread rain provided relief from the sweltering heat.
Heavy Rainfall Across the Capital
Several weather stations received significant rainfall. Safdarjung recorded 40.2 mm in 24 hours, including 26 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Pusa received 75 mm, Najafgarh 123.5 mm, Lodi Road 47.8 mm, Palam 47.1 mm and Mayur Vihar 51 mm, reflecting widespread showers.
Waterlogging Disrupts Normal Life
However, the rain led to waterlogging in several areas, including Sadar Bazar, Nasirpur, Greater Kailash, Badarpur, Teliwara, Mahavir Bazar, Swarup Nagar and Kushak Road. In some localities, pedestrians waded through knee-deep water as drains overflowed.
Traffic Congestion Across Key Routes
Traffic movement was severely affected. Long queues formed on Rohtak Road between Punjabi Bagh and Shadipur. The ITO intersection, a perennial congestion point during monsoon, witnessed heavy traffic. Slow-moving vehicles were reported on Ring Road, Outer Ring Road and National Highway-48, particularly near Dhaula Kuan, Mahipalpur and Rajokri, where reduced visibility and water accumulation hampered movement. Vehicular movement was also affected on Mathura Road near Ashram, Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, Zakhira Flyover, Moti Nagar, Patel Nagar, Naraina, AIIMS, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Moolchand, Azadpur, Mukarba Chowk and stretches of Delhi-Noida Link Road.
Forecast for Thursday
The IMD has forecast generally cloudy skies with more spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on Thursday. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to remain between 29-31 degrees Celsius and 22-24 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Political Slugfest Over Waterlogging
The fresh spell of waterlogging triggered a political slugfest, with Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav alleging that the BJP government's claims of monsoon preparedness had "collapsed" after rain inundated several roads, including many of the waterlogging hotspots identified by the administration. Yadav claimed that despite the government's assertion that 445 waterlogging hotspots, including 169 highly vulnerable locations, had been mapped and drains de-silted before the monsoon, several parts of the city witnessed flooding. He alleged that clogged drains and poor civic infrastructure continued to leave residents stranded.
