Continuous heavy rain since Tuesday morning in Delhi has disrupted life in the capital, flooding roads. Several areas including ITO, Dhaula Kuan, Patel Nagar, and Rohini are experiencing traffic jams due to waterlogging. A severe traffic jam has occurred on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway near Akshardham Setu, where commuters are moving at a snail's pace, as if a traffic epidemic has struck.
Those heading to schools and offices during the morning rush hour have been particularly inconvenienced by the rain. Videos of waterlogging and traffic jams are going viral on social media, clearly showing that the administration has failed both in practice drills and in the actual situation.
Atishi's Attack
Former Delhi CM and AAP leader Atishi shared a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) of flooded streets in Kamala Nagar Market, criticizing the government. She wrote, "This is the state of Kamala Nagar after 10 minutes of rain! This is the magic of the 4-engine government!"
She tagged Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, questioning, "Where is the Chief Minister, where is the PWD Minister?"—leading to a renewed debate on Delhi's monsoon management capabilities.
Weather Department's Alert and Air Quality Status
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded 8 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. The minimum temperature recorded on Tuesday morning was 26.8°C, which is 0.5°C below average. The department has issued an alert for moderate rainfall and cloudy skies in the next 24–48 hours, while the maximum temperature is likely to be around 30°C.
The rainfall has also brought some relief to air pollution. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's AQI was recorded at 87 at 9 am, which falls in the 'satisfactory' category. According to CPCB standards, an AQI between 51–100 is considered 'satisfactory', while 0–50 is 'good' and 101–200 is 'moderate'.
Questions on Government Accountability
While Delhi residents grapple with waterlogging and traffic jams, there is sharp criticism on social media regarding the government's preparedness. Former CM Atishi's b stance has increased pressure on the administration. People want to know why the preparations were inadequate for the rain that has been ongoing for two days, and why Delhi's plight is repeated every monsoon.
Now it remains to be seen how long the Delhi government will wait—meanwhile, the public continues to suffer on waterlogged roads.
