New Delhi: Heavy rains that lashed the national capital Delhi on Wednesday morning led to waterlogging and traffic snarls in many parts of the city, including the Minto Road railway underpass, while several low-lying areas were submerged.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded 112.1 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday, the highest single-day precipitation in September in 19 years.
The capital had recorded 126.8 mm rainfall on September 13, 2002. The all-time record is 172.6 mm rainfall on September 16, 1963. The city gauged 75.6 mm rainfall in just three hours starting at 8.30 am on Wednesday.
Some of the important areas that saw major waterlogging included Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri, Lodhi Road, Connaught Place, Minto Road underpass, Panchkuian Road, Janpath, Akbar Road, roads near India Gate, Vasant Kunj, Ring Road, and Rohtak Road.
Due to the waterlogging, the traffic police had to shut the Minto road underpass for vehicular movement.
READ: Delhi PWD identifies seven critical waterlogging points
Many key road stretches witnessed traffic jams due to inundation and these included Rohtak Road, Akshardham-Noida road, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur elevated road (Barapullah-2), Vikas Marg, Dhaula Kuan, the Ring Road near AIIMS and Moolchand, Ashram, Mathura Road, Jahangirpuri-Mukarba Chowk stretch and Sarai Kale Khan.
The heavy burst of rain, besides affecting traffic movement, also submerged low-lying areas in knee-deep water. Such waterlogged areas included Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, surrounding areas of Lajpat Nagar Metro Station, Munirka, Moolchand Bus Stand, and Aurobindo Marg near the AIIMS flyover.
Meanwhile, over a dozen trains reaching Delhi are running late by hours from their scheduled time.
According to information received from Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, the track has been flooded at many places in the Delhi area following which vehicles have to be stopped here. He said that many trains arriving at New Delhi station in the morning have been affected.
Rail operations are slow from platform number 1 to 8 of the New Delhi railway station. Stations falling on the New Delhi approach lines, including Tilak Bridge Shivaji Bridge, have water on the track. Keeping in mind the safety of the passengers and the perceived problem of the signal system, the manual operation has been implemented at many places.
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