New Delhi witnessed significant waterlogging in various areas on Thursday following pre-monsoon morning showers, which also brought down the temperature in the capital. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department (PWD) reported numerous incidents of water accumulation across their respective zones, highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with drainage and infrastructure issues.
The MCD control room received reports of waterlogging from 47 different locations spread across the city. Similarly, the PWD logged 35 complaints, although some were repeat calls. Areas particularly affected included Anand Parbat, Kingsway Camp, IP Extension, Vasundhra Enclave, Jangpura Extension, Nangloi-Najafgarh Road, Rajouri Garden, Tagore Garden, and the area beneath the Mayapuri flyover.
In addition to waterlogging, MCD officials noted incidents of fallen tree branches in regions such as Nizamuddin West, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Dwarka Sector 8, and Uttam Nagar. “Our teams promptly responded to the complaints of waterlogging, taking all necessary measures to clear the accumulated water. Fallen branches were also removed by field staff to prevent traffic congestion,” stated an MCD official.
Interestingly, the New Delhi Municipal Council reported no waterlogging complaints to its control room, indicating a disparity in the impact of the rain across different municipal zones.
The pre-monsoon showers also caused disruptions in Noida and Ghaziabad, with widespread waterlogging and power outages reported. In Noida, local faults and equipment failures resulted in power cuts lasting between 2 to 4 hours in sectors 19, 30, 51, 63, and 62. Residents of Behlolpur and Sector 63 experienced even longer outages, with power cuts extending up to 8 hours. Waterlogging due to clogged sewers and overflowing drains was reported in sectors 19, 27, 30, 51, 62, 63, Arun Vihar, and Behlolpur.
Ghaziabad also faced significant disruptions, with power outages lasting up to 4 hours in areas like Abhay Khand, Nyaya Khand, and Indirapuram.
The recurring issue of waterlogging in Delhi and its neighbouring regions underscores the urgent need for improved drainage infrastructure and proactive urban planning. As the monsoon season approaches, the civic bodies must prioritise enhancing their response mechanisms to mitigate the adverse effects of heavy rainfall on daily life and commerce. The timely removal of water and debris, along with better maintenance of sewers and drains, will be crucial in preventing such disruptions in the future.
The pre-monsoon rains serve as a reminder of the challenges posed by inadequate infrastructure in rapidly growing urban centres. Effective collaboration between municipal authorities, timely upgrades to drainage systems, and public awareness campaigns can collectively address the perennial problem of waterlogging, ensuring a smoother monsoon season for residents of Delhi and the NCR.
