Rain batters Delhi-NCR

2 die, 3-storey building collapses in Gzb; NH24 flyover waterlogged, traffic clogged in Delhi

Heavy rain lashed the national Capital and the National Capital Region (NCR), leading to death of a man and a child, collapse of a three-storey building, heavy waterlogging on newly constructed Raj Nagar Extension Elevated Road in Ghaziabad, and waterlogging and traffic snarls at various places in Delhi on Thursday.

While in Indirapuram’s Shipra Sun City, 34-year-old man was electrocuted as he was wading through rainwater outside his house, a child died after a wall collapsed in Khoda due to rain.

A three-storey building collapsed in Mubarakpur of Greater Noida. However, no causalities were reported till Thursday evening. Also, a road caved in creating a huge crater in Vartalok society in Ghaziabad, causing damage to the nearby building. Taking precautionary measures, the Ghaziabad District Administration (GDA) asked people to vacate 64 flats. According to locals, the damage has impacted water, electricity and sewer connection. 

 “It will take at least three to four days before these facilities are restored,” said a resident of Vartalok society.

Meanwhile, the Ghaziabad DM has ordered schools to be closed till noon on Friday.

In Delhi, traffic was severely affected with waterlogging contributing to chaos at various intersections. According to traffic police officials, vehicular movement was affected at the Vivek Vihar underpass, the Seema Puri underpass and under the Ghazipur flyover.

“Traffic is also affected from Narayana T Point to Loha Mandi due to waterlogging on the Girdhari Lal Goswami Marg in West Delhi. Commuters should avoid the stretch,” an official said.

Traffic was reported to be affected from Apsara border to Shahdara, Seema Puri to Apsara border and Khaira Mor to Bahardurgarh bus stand in Najafgarh.

There was obstruction in traffic from Lal Kuan in South Delhi to Badarpur due to waterlogging. The traffic police also issued advisories with alternate routes on its Twitter handle for motorists.

Heavy rain lashed the city overnight and continued till the morning. The weatherman has predicted more rainfall during Friday. “The minimum temperature recorded at 8.30 am was 26 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year. The humidity level was 93 per cent,” a MeT official said.

The Safdarjung observatory recorded 4.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 am, while the rainfall recorded by Palam observatory was 9.3 mm. The Lodhi Road observatory received 5.3 mm rainfall and the ridge area recorded 8.8 mm rainfall.

The Delhi Traffic Police has listed out routes to avoid.

It said that traffic was affected at Ghazipur Murga Mandi, Khajuri Chowk, Modi Mil Under Flyover, SDM office Pushta Road, Raja Ram Kohli Marg from Geeta Colony to Pushta Road, Suraj Kund to Prahlad Pur & Mayur Vihar Ph-II Subway, Slip Road, Minto Road Under Bridge, Chatta Rail, Dwarka Mor to Road No. 201, Mayapuri Chowk & from Badarpur to Mehrauli, Ashram, Sarai Kale Khan towards Nizamuddin railway station and 11 Murti road.

“The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 31 and 26 degrees Celsius respectively,” the MeT official added.