‘Every year, the same thing happens’: Heavy rain exposes Delhi’s civic failures again

Heavy rain battered Delhi on Monday, flooding roads, forcing shops to shut and bringing traffic to a near standstill at several key locations, once again exposing the Capital’s vulnerability to waterlogging.

Children waded through knee-deep water in Sangam Vihar, while shops were flooded in Sadar Bazaar and vehicles struggled through the Zakhira underpass and Rohtak Road. Waterlogging was reported across nearly all parts of the city, including Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Mahipalpur, Sainik Farms, Kamla Nagar, Vasant Kunj, Krishna Nagar, Kirari, New Ashok Nagar, Bhalswa and areas around Connaught Place, ITO and the Supreme Court.

At an underpass leading towards Indira Gandhi International Airport, water rose to around 1 to 1.5 feet, leaving several vehicles stranded. In Sadar Bazaar, one of Delhi’s largest wholesale markets, shopkeepers reported losses after floodwater damaged goods.

“Every year the same thing happens,” residents said, questioning the government’s preparedness despite repeated claims that drains had been desilted and measures taken to prevent waterlogging.

The flooding also triggered severe traffic congestion across major arterial roads. Long snarls were reported on the Ring Road between Sarai Kale Khan and Lajpat Nagar via Ashram Chowk, South Extension and Safdarjung Hospital, as well as near Dhaula Kuan. Traffic was also affected between Nehru Place and Okhla and from Chirag Delhi to Munirka via the IIT flyover.

A fallen tree branch near Panchsheel Park added to the chaos, with commuters reporting delays that caused them to miss meetings. School buses were also caught in the traffic.

In another incident, part of a building collapsed near Delhi Gate in Old Delhi at around 11.22am. Police said no one was injured, although three to four scooters and motorcycles were damaged. The building was reportedly in a dilapidated condition and had already received a notice from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.