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Delhi experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening, resulting in widespread flooding and traffic disruptions throughout the city. The downpour led to tragic consequences when a mother and her son drowned in an open drain in Mayur Vihar Phase 3. According to police reports, the boy, Priyansh, slipped into the drain, which was obscured by the surrounding waterlogging. His mother, Tanuja, tragically fell into the drain while attempting to rescue him.
The heavy rainfall prompted Education Minister Atishi to announce the closure of all schools, both government and private, on Thursday. At the Delhi Airport, flight operations were affected, with 10 flights being diverted - eight to Jaipur and two to Lucknow. The flooding caused significant travel disruptions across the city, with commuters facing knee-deep water and hours-long traffic jams.
The Old Rajinder Nagar area, where the recent flooding of a coaching center's basement led to the deaths of three UPSC aspirants, was once again waterlogged. Area MLA Durgesh Pathak was observed wading through waist-deep water, attempting to clear the inundated stretch. Despite the ongoing rain, students protesting against the coaching center incident continued their demonstration.
Knee-deep water submerged the area in front of Karol Bagh Metro Station and Connaught Place, where water infiltrated the parking area and several shops. Amit Gupta, president of the Connaught Place Traders' Association, expressed concerns about the lack of desilting by authorities, stating that the area, which contributes the highest taxes in the city, is suffering from inadequate infrastructure. He warned that the situation is akin to a 'ticking time bomb.'
Waterlogging choked traffic in key areas such as ITO, Minto Bridge, Pul Prahladpur Railway Underpass, MB Road, Dhaula Kuan, Mathura Road, Sarita Vihar Metro Station, and the carriageway from Moolchand towards Chirag Dilli. Other affected areas included Jangpura, Gaffar Market, Sadar Bazar, and Anuvrat Marg.
The Public Works Department (PWD) received 30 waterlogging complaints, primarily from East Delhi, including Yamuna Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, and Preet Vihar. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) received four complaints. MCD officials stated that they anticipate receiving more complaints by early morning and confirmed ongoing efforts to remove water from roads.
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena urged officials to maintain vigilance during the heavy rainfall. In a post on X, he emphasized the need to address waterlogging issues at vulnerable sites, including coaching centers, to minimize inconvenience to the public. Atishi echoed these concerns, stating that the Delhi government and MCD are actively monitoring low-lying areas and potential waterlogging locations to prevent further incidents.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi announced that she has instructed MCD officials to promptly address any waterlogging occurrences. She assured the public that they are available round the clock. The heavy rainfall also affected parts of Gurgaon and Noida, with waterlogging reported on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and various stretches in Gurgaon, including the Rajeev Chowk underpass, Medanta Road, Gold Souk Road, and Golf Course Road. In Noida, traffic disruptions occurred in Sectors 98 and 92, as well as at the Mahamaya Flyover.