New Delhi: Two hours of torrential rain was enough to swamp Old Rajendra Nagar yet again on Wednesday evening. It was only on Saturday that the area was flooded with rain water which gushed into the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, a coaching centre. Three UPSC aspirants were trapped in the waterlogged basement of the coaching centre and were drowned. On Wednesday, the horror came back to haunt the locals as heavy rains lashed the Capital.
While posting a video of waterlogged Old Rajendra Nagar on X, rebel Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal wrote, “This is the current situation near Rau IAS in Old Rajendra Nagar. After the administrative murder of innocent students three days ago, the same situation again? Even if the drains are not cleaned, no one will be held accountable?”
ये अभी ओल्ड राजेंद्र नगर के Rau IAS के पास के हालात हैं।
तीन दिन पहले जो बेक़सूर छात्रों की प्रशासनिक हत्या हुई, उसके बाद फिर से वही हाल ?
अब भी नाले साफ़ न होने पे भी किसी की जवाबदेही तय नहीं होगी ? pic.twitter.com/ygCwjHFUtk
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) July 31, 2024
IMD sounds red alert
The India Meteorological Department sounded red alert for Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad. According to IMD’s Automatic Weather Station (AWS) network, the Pragati Maidan observatory in central Delhi recorded 112.5 mm of rainfall in one hour. It has been predicted that the rains will persist till August 5 across all four NCR regions.
The heavy rainfall affected traffic in many parts of the city, including Lutyen’s Delhi, Kashmere Gate and Rajinder Nagar, among others, which were inundated following the heavy rain. At least 10 flights were diverted from Delhi’s IGI airport due to the inclement weather.
Govt keeping close watch
As rains buffeted the city, Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) went on their toes and said they are keeping a close vigil on areas prone to flooding.
In a post on X amid Wednesday’s rains, Delhi education minister Atishi wrote, “There has been very heavy rainfall in Delhi in the last two hours. Delhi Govt and MCD are maintaining a close watch on low lying areas and vulnerable water logging locations, to ensure no untoward incident takes place.”
There has been very heavy rainfall in Delhi in the last two hours. Delhi Govt and MCD are maintaining a close watch on low lying areas and vulnerable water logging locations, to ensure no untoward incident takes place.
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) July 31, 2024
“Have cautioned all officers to remain alert in light of the ongoing heavy downpour in Delhi. Apart from ensuring minimum inconvenience to people in general, they are advised to specifically address issues at sites prone to waterlogging, including coaching centres,” Delhi LG Vinay Kumar Saxena said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Atishi had announced that the state government will introduce a legislation to regulate coaching centres in response to recent tragedy in Old Rajender Nagar area. Atishi had pointed out that the severe waterlogging in the area was because of encroachments by coaching centres, which choked the drainage system. A magisterial probe report will be out in six days, and erring officials will not be nailed.
The pertinent question is that despite all the rhetoric and claims, what’s being done on the ground? Why even after 4 days of the incident, the area was flooded with water yet again after just two hours of rain? Why has desilting not been undertaken till now? It is imperative that the Delhi government and the MCD take measures on a war-footing, rather than resorting to knee-jerk reactions.
