The national capital woke up to chaos as heavy overnight rains triggered widespread waterlogging, bringing Delhi to a virtual standstill. The deluge, which continued into the morning hours, submerged vehicles, paralyzed traffic, and left thousands of commuters stranded, exposing the city’s chronic drainage issues and reigniting debates over its monsoon preparedness.
Areas across Delhi felt the impact, with Minto Bridge, Moolchand, Vinod Nagar, and Aurobindo Road emerging as some of the worst-hit locations. The Minto Bridge underpass, a perennial trouble spot during monsoons, once again lived up to its notorious reputation. Visuals of a partially submerged vehicle in the waterlogged underpass circulated widely, serving as a stark reminder of the area’s vulnerability. This incident is particularly alarming given that just a year ago, the Public Works Department (PWD) had confidently removed Minto Bridge from its list of waterlogging hot spots in the capital.
The recurring issue at Minto Bridge, which dates back to at least 1958, has been a thorn in the side of successive Delhi governments. Despite various interventions, including 24-hour CCTV surveillance during monsoons, the area continues to pose risks. The gravity of the situation was tragically highlighted in 2020 when a man drowned after his vehicle got stuck in the flooded underpass.
Traffic snarls gripped the city, with major junctions like ITO, NH9, and Ring Road witnessing massive pile-ups. The stretch from South Delhi to the IIT flyover via Aurobindo Road was particularly affected, with vehicles crawling at a snail’s pace. Public transport users weren’t spared either, as areas around metro stations like Saket and Bhikaji Cama Place were heavily waterlogged, forcing commuters to wade through knee-deep water.
The waterlogging crisis quickly turned into a political battleground. Delhi BJP spokesperson Ajay Sehrawat launched a scathing attack on the AAP government, accusing it of mismanagement. “AAP has ruined Delhi. More than 10 feet of water has filled up under Minto Bridge,” he posted on social media platform X, questioning the government’s promises and alleging a focus on profiteering from MCD parking instead of addressing critical infrastructure issues.
In a theatrical display of protest, BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi was seen rowing an inflatable boat through the flooded NH9 area. He pointed fingers at the PWD, claiming, “All PWD drains are overflowing. They didn’t get it cleaned ahead of Monsoon. This has led to waterlogging. Vinod Nagar has submerged.”
The monsoon’s fury wasn’t limited to Delhi alone. Neighboring Noida also bore the brunt, with areas like Sector 62 reporting severe waterlogging due to the relentless downpour.
As Delhi grapples with this early monsoon challenge, serious questions are being raised about the city’s infrastructure resilience and the effectiveness of measures taken by authorities to prevent such widespread disruption. With weather forecasts predicting more rain in the coming days, residents and commuters are bracing themselves for potential further chaos, while hoping for swift action from the government to address these perennial monsoon woes.