New Delhi: Monday’s downpour inundated key roads and markets in several areas of the city, disrupting traffic and leading to long snarls.Commuters reported jams at several locations, including ITO, Sarai Kale Khan, Panchsheel Park, Zakhira Underpass, Ajmeri Gate near New Delhi Railway Station, Uttam Nagar West, Palam Flyover, Dwarka Sector 2 and Jaitpur Mor in Badarpur.Waterlogging was reported in Munirka, Badarpur, Chhatarpur, Aerocity, Sangam Vihar, Lajpat Nagar, parts of Dwarka, Burari, Mathura Road, CR Park, Alaknanda and New Ashok Nagar.At Zakhira Underpass, commuters were seen wading through waist-deep water, with some dragging two-wheelers, even as a mini-truck was stranded.Parts of Lutyens’ Delhi were also waterlogged, with the road near Shivaji Stadium witnessing slow vehicular movement. Connaught Place’s G, H and the middle lane next to A Block were inundated. Traders wondered whether motors installed in tunnels by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to pump out water were fully functional.NDMC officials said all its motors were functioning properly and were being continuously monitored. “As soon as it started raining, all our staff and officials hit the roads. Waterlogging was reported for 30 to 35 minutes on certain stretches following heavy rain. We have deployed teams 24×7 in waterlogging hotspots,” officials said.According to sources, desilting work on Public Works Department (PWD) drains connecting the area near Kake Da Dhaba in CP’s Outer Circle with Minto Road is still in progress.PWD officials said, “The drain never underwent desilting before, with access and coordination requirements in this multi-agency area posing challenges. As a result, significant silt accumulated at several locations. PWD has taken up desilting work on a priority, with 80% of it already done and the remaining work targeted for completion within the next 15 days. Temporary arrangements are in place to ensure smooth storm-water flow during showers. Steps are being taken to restore the drainage capacity of the area at the earliest.”Regarding the rest of the places, PWD said the situation is being continuously monitored, and field teams are being deployed at vulnerable locations.NDMC reported seven complaints of waterlogging, including near Udyog Bhawan, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Gole Market, Lodhi Estate and Sarojini Nagar.Sadar Bazar was once again hit hard, with people struggling to wade through knee-deep water. A similar situation was reported in Kamla Nagar market, where waterlogging heightened traffic congestion on the main road.Rajendra Sharma, general secretary of Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders, wondered how long it will take to improve the condition of the area. “Shopkeepers are facing losses every time it rains as water enters their shops,” he said.Commuters were also affected, with traffic reduced to a crawl on the Outer Ring Road stretch from Chirag Delhi towards Panchsheel Park after a large branch of a tree fell onto the road. Delhi Fire Service received four calls related to such incidents.Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported 12 complaints related to branches and trees falling on roads in Chhatarpur, Defence Colony, Vasant Kunj and Okhla. It also received nine complaints of waterlogging from Chandni Chowk, Hari Nagar, Kirari and Sangam Vihar.NDMC received five complaints of fallen trees and branches from Laxmibai Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and near Ghana Embassy.Long snarls were also reported at ITO, with people complaining of prolonged delays. At ITO, a commuter questioned the timing of traffic signals for vehicles approaching from Noida, saying that the longer red-light phase and shorter green-light phase were adding to the congestion.The journey from Defence Colony to ITO, which normally takes around 20 to 25 minutes, took 40 to 45 minutes Monday, another commuter said.In Dwarka, people reported being stuck near Sector 2 red light for nearly an hour after a bus broke down. Traffic was also reported to be slow between a hospital in Dwarka Sector 1 and the Sector 6 red light, with commuters complaining of vehicles moving in the wrong direction amid the congestion. Traffic also came to a standstill on Ashram Flyover towards Raj Ghat, with vehicles barely moving.Similar complaints were reported from Bhalswa, where commuters said the flow of traffic remained heavy and slow for a considerable period.Seven complaints related to power supply disruptions were reported from some areas, including Sujan Singh Park, Khan Market, Double Storey Mandir Marg, Bharti Nagar and Ansari Nagar West.
