Heavy Rainfall in Delhi Causes Chaos: School Wall Collapses, Two Drown in Ghazipur

New Delhi: The wall of a private school in Daryaganj collapsed due to heavy rainfall, causing damage to nearby parked vehicles and adding to the widespread disruption caused by the intense downpour.

Delhi experienced severe waterlogging and structural collapses due to heavy rainfall, leading to significant disruptions and safety concerns. Visuals from outside the Civic Center near Ramlila Maidan showed streets submerged under water, while other areas faced similar issues.

Severe Flooding Across Delhi

In South Delhi's Chhatarpur area, streets turned into rivers, with slippers floating in the water as vehicles struggled through the floods. The Pragati Maidan tunnel and major intersections like ITO, Dhaula Kuan, and roads leading to the airport faced severe traffic snarls due to waterlogging.

Even the Press Club of India was not spared, with rainwater infiltrating the premises and people seen sitting in knee-deep water in photos shared online.

Structural Damages

The heavy rain also caused the collapse of a house in the Sabzi Mandi area, further highlighting the structural vulnerabilities in the city. A resident from Sabzi Mandi expressed frustration, noting that the MCD had issued notices to evacuate or repair buildings, but many warnings were ignored.

Tragic Incidents

A 22-year-old woman, Tanuja, and her three-year-old son, Priyansh, drowned in a waterlogged drain in the Ghazipur area while on their way to a market. The incident occurred near the Khoda Colony, where a roadside drain was under construction.

Government Response

Delhi minister Atishi announced that all schools, both government and private, would remain closed on August 1 due to the forecast of continued heavy rainfall. She emphasized that the Delhi government and MCD were closely monitoring low-lying areas and vulnerable locations to prevent further incidents.

Continued Flooding and Protests

The Old Rajinder Nagar area, already shaken by the recent tragedy where three students died in a flooded basement of a coaching center, faced further flooding. Residents and students protested in thigh-high water, criticizing the administration's failure to clean the drains.

"We came out for dinner, and within minutes, the entire area was flooded," a resident said. "Even after five days since the death of the UPSC aspirants, the administration and MCD have done nothing to clean the drains," another protester alleged.

Political Reactions

The BJP criticized the AAP government, accusing it of not learning from past tragedies. In contrast, AAP shared videos of local MLA Durgesh Pathak assisting people and ensuring water was being pumped out.

Impact on Air Traffic

The weather severely impacted air traffic, with at least 10 flights scheduled to land at Delhi airport being diverted to Jaipur and Lucknow. Airlines also warned of potential further disruptions.

Authorities on High Alert

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena instructed officers to remain alert and minimize inconvenience to the public, especially addressing issues at waterlogging-prone sites, including coaching centers.

The heavy rains in Delhi have caused significant disruption, highlighting the need for better infrastructure and preparedness to handle such extreme weather events.