Another rainy day, same story: Delhi sees huge waterlogging; schools, shops hit

Delhi faced another day of heavy rainfall, resulting in significant waterlogging that affected schools, shops, and residents. In Sangam Vihar, schoolgirls waded through waist-deep water, struggling to push a stalled white van. At an MCD primary school in Deoli, classes were canceled as the ground was submerged under muddy water.

Across Delhi-NCR, heavy rain led to widespread disruptions, with 34.6 mm of rain reported at Safdarjung base station between 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. Janakpuri and Ayanagar recorded the highest rainfall at 70 mm and 66 mm, respectively.

The Deoli school's rainwater harvesting system was deemed responsible for the flooding, delaying the school's operations. Residents expressed frustration over the persistent neglect, with some attributing the issue to delayed sewer excavations and haphazard drain maintenance. In Durga Vihar, shops remained closed as water accumulated in basements, while C Block Deoli Pahadi Road suffered a road collapse, prompting emergency repairs from the Delhi Jal Board.

Delhi's recurrent flooding is attributed to several factors, including delays in sewer laying due to forest-land restrictions, pending road-cutting permissions, and local encroachments. The ongoing Phase-IV Delhi Metro construction near Sainik Farms has also contributed to the problem by disrupting local drainage. In Central Delhi, Sadar Bazar experienced similar inundation, with shopkeepers manually bailing out flooded basements.

The MCD deployed pumps to clear the water, while the DMRC and PWD worked to manage the situation. Despite pre-monsoon preparations, critical waterlogging spots reduced from 194 to 65, but the recurring issue highlights the city's ongoing drainage challenges.