An incessant spell of light to moderate rain drenched Delhi for the second day on Thursday, leading to waterlogging, trees getting uprooted in some areas and affecting traffic movement on key roads across the city resulting in frayed tempers. The fresh spell of rain just before the withdrawal of monsoon from the National Capital Region (NCR) will help cover the large deficit (46 per cent till September 22) to some extent. It would also keep the air clean and the temperature in check.
According to the Delhi Traffic Police, a portion of a road caved in and their helpline received 23 calls related to traffic jams, seven regarding waterlogging and two related to uprooting of trees from various parts of the city.
Traffic jams were reported in Khajuri Chowk, Goyla Dairy, Yamuna Bridge, Outer Ring Road Paschim Vihar, Rohini Sector-8, Hanuman Mandir Pusa Road, Azad Market, Dwarka flyover, Dhaula Kuan to Gurugram, officials said.
Waterlogging was also reported from AIIMS flyover, Rajdhani Park to Mundka, Nigambodh Ghat, near Mayapuri flyover and uprooting of trees was reported from Burari and Abai Marg. The Delhi Traffic Police also took to Twitter to guide commuters about the traffic situation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued an ‘orange alert’, cautioning people about sporadic heavy rain which could reduce visibility, disrupt traffic and damage kutcha roads and vulnerable structures.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, gauged 31.2 mm of rainfall between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM. The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar received 56.5 mm, 27.4 mm, 16.8 mm and 45.8 mm of precipitation during this period. “Light to moderate intensity rain would continue to occur in Delhi-NCR,” the weather office said.
However, in a relief to Delhiites, the maximum temperature in the city dipped to 28 degrees Celsius, seven notches colder than normal for this season. The minimum temperature of the Capital stood at 23.8 degrees Celsius, one notch lower than the normal for this time of the year, according to the IMD data.
The relative humidity recorded on Thursday at 8:30 AM was 96 per cent and 100 per cent at 5:30 PM, at Delhi’s base station, Safdarjung Observatory. The Safdarjung Observatory has recorded just 58.5 mm of rainfall against a normal of 108.5 mm in September so far.
The weather stations at Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar received 56.5 mm, 27.4 mm, 16.8 mm and 45.8 mm of precipitation during this period. The Delhi University area, Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Pusa and Mayur Vihar recorded 16.5 mm, 18 mm, 29 mm, 24.5 mm and 25.5 mm of rainfall, respectively. Overall, Delhi has recorded 405.3 mm rainfall against a normal of 621.7 mm since June 1, when the monsoon season historically sets in. According to the statement released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the city has reported three complaints of waterlogging in the areas including Fatehpur Beri, Sangam Vihar and Tikri Kala Village.
“Following the heavy rainfall, seven complaints of trees falling or parts of trees falling reported in some parts of city including Madipur colony, Nangal Rai, Mahavir Enclave, Ramjas Road Karol Bagh, Inderpuri, Azadpur Commercial complex, Aruna Nagar and Majnu Ka Tila,” the statement added.
