7 Dead in Delhi-NCR Flooding: Schools Closed, Roads Waterlogged

Deadly Flooding Hits Delhi-NCR, Schools Shut

Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) faced severe flooding due to heavy rains. This downpour led to seven fatalities, with traffic severely disrupted and schools closed. The intense rainfall left most areas submerged and citizens stranded for hours.

Fatalities and Impact of the Rain

The deluge resulted in significant casualties:

• Delhi: Two people drowned after slipping into a waterlogged drain.
• Gurugram: Three individuals died due to electrocution from high tension wires.
• Greater Noida: Two people perished due to a wall collapse in Dadri.

The flooding caused widespread chaos at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where ten flights were diverted. Eight flights were redirected to Jaipur and two to Lucknow. IndiGo reported continued delays in both departures and arrivals due to the adverse weather.

School Closures and Weather Alerts

Delhi’s Education Minister, Atishi, announced that schools in the capital would remain closed due to the relentless rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, predicting that heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning will persist until August 5.

Rainfall Data and Weather Conditions

The primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded 79.2 mm of rainfall between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Other areas reported:

• Mayur Vihar: 119 mm
• Pusa: 66.5 mm
• Delhi University: 77.5 mm
• Palam Observatory: 43.7 mm

Delhi’s maximum temperature reached 37.8°C during the day.

Incidents of Structural Damage

The torrential rain caused several incidents of structural damage:

• Ghazipur (Delhi): Tanuja, 22, and her three-year-old son drowned after falling into a waterlogged drain under construction.
• Sabzi Mandi (North Delhi): A house collapsed, injuring one person.
• Vasant Kunj: A wall collapse injured a woman.
• Daryaganj: A private school’s wall fell, damaging a parked car.

Traffic Disruptions and Advisory

Key roads across Delhi-NCR were inundated, causing severe traffic jams. Areas like Lutyens’ Delhi and roads leading to Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad were heavily affected. Old Rajinder Nagar faced knee-deep water, while Connaught Place saw water entering showrooms and restaurants.

Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories for commuters to avoid certain roads. The traffic department is actively updating road conditions on social media platforms.

Safety Measures and Public Advisory

The National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin has included Delhi in its list of “areas of concern.” Citizens are advised to stay indoors, secure their homes, and avoid unnecessary travel until the situation improves.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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