New Delhi: Rains continued to lash Delhi, leading to waterlogging and affecting traffic movement in several areas of the city. The national capital has been witnessing an incessant spell of light to moderate rain for the past two days. The weather department has predicted more rains on Friday. The minimum temperature in the city was recorded one notch above normal at 22 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at around 28 degrees Celsius, according to the The India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD issued a 'yellow alert', cautioning people about moderate rain at most places in Delhi. "Light intensity rain/drizzle would occur over and adjoining areas of many places of South-Delhi, South-East Delhi, NCR (Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh) Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra...Kotputli, Alwar (Rajasthan) during next 2 hours," IMD's RWFC tweeted at around 8 am.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, gauged 40.8 mm of rainfall between 5.30 pm on Thursday and 8.30 am on Friday. The weather stations at Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar received 44 mm, 24.6 mm and 60 mm of precipitation respectively during this period. The Delhi University area, Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Pusa and Mayur Vihar recorded 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1 mm, 26.5 mm and 49.5 mm of rainfall, respectively, the weather department said.
The rains have brought much-needed respite from the sultry weather. The fresh spells of rains just before the withdrawal of monsoon from the National Capital Region will help cover the large deficit (46 per cent till September 22 morning) to some extent. It would also keep the air clean and the temperature in check.
The IMD on Tuesday said the southwest monsoon had withdrawn from parts of southwest Rajasthan and adjoining Kutch, three days after the normal date of September 17. Usually, it takes around a week after its withdrawal from west Rajasthan for the monsoon to retreat from Delhi. The withdrawal of southwest monsoon is declared if there has been no rainfall in the region for five days along with the development of anti-cyclonic circulation and water vapour imagery indicates dry weather conditions over the region.
Many areas in Delhi witnessed traffic jams on Friday as continuous rainfall led to waterlogging at several key stretches. The Delhi Traffic Police issued an alert, asking commuters to plan their journey in view of the rainfall. "Waterlogging has been observed near Hanuman Setu on Shanti van to Hanuman Mandir Carriageway, Libaspur underpass, Maharani Bagh Taimur Nagar cut, CDR Chowk, Mehrauli towards Gurugram, Andheria Mode towards Vasant Kunj, under Nizamuddin bridge, Singhu Border near petrol pump, MB Road towards Sainik Farm carriageway," it tweeted, advising the commuters to avoid these stretches. There were also reports of traffic jams in the Mahipalpur area and Preet Vihar in east Delhi.
In Gurugram, the district administration has ordered all private offices to work from home on Friday amid heavy rains. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), in an advisory, said that all corporate offices and private institutions are advised to guide employees to work from home to avoid traffic congestion. The advisory stated, In view of heavy rainfall prediction for the district Gurugram on September 23, there are chances of waterlogging and traffic congestion. Therefore, all corporate offices and private institutions in the district are advised to guide their employees to work from home on Friday so that traffic congestion can be avoided and repair works of roads and drains can be carried out smoothly by civic agencies, it read.
Deputy Commissioner, Nishant Kumar Yadav on twitter said, Gurugram District Administration has issued advisory for all corporate companies, private institutions to allow their employees to work from home in larger public interest. While the rain continued, vehicular movement was smooth in Gurugram. Traffic jams were reported in some areas in the morning due to waterlogging.The traffic police have been put on duty to manage the traffic situation.
Meanwhile, rain lashed Chandigarh and several parts of Haryana, leading to a dip in mercury, India Meteorological Department officials said. Mohali in Punjab and Panchkula in Haryana, both adjoining Chandigarh, were lashed by heavy rain on Friday, MeT officials said. Several parts of Haryana, including Gurugram, Hisar, Karnal, Narnaul, Rohtak, Kurukshetra and Sonipat, were lashed by heavy rain during the past 24 hours. Rupnagar and Patiala in Punjab also received heavy rain. (with Agency inputs)
