Torrential rain batters Delhi

Vehicles stranded on roads for nearly two hours, air traffic not affected

Almost all major roads in the city were inundated by 9 am in the morning by rain, which began late Thursday night and later became heavy.

Air traffic remained unaffected.

The city’s most important crossing at ITO, which connects the trans-Yamuna suburbs, was totally submerged, affecting movement of traffic.

Vehicles were stranded on the roads for nearly two hours and could move only after the rain had slowed down.

Major roads in Saket, South Extension and Indraprastha, were badly affected. Attempt by motorists to bypass the traffic resulted in choking narrow lanes.

According to the weather office, Delhi recorded 60.6 mm of rain from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.  It also said some parts of the city may have heavy rain on Saturday, while the weather would remain cloudy with one or two spells of rain.

Min temperature

Minimum temperature in the capital dropped to 25.1 degrees Celsius, while the maximum remained below average at 28 degrees.  Humidity was at a maximum of 98 per cent and a minimum of 89 per cent.  A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said 183 cases of waterlogging were reported, while 17 cases of fallen trees and 19 damaged buildings were also brought to the authority’s attention.

Students of two south Delhi colleges – Gargi College and Kamla Nehru College – were seen wading through knee-deep water that submerged footpaths near the entrance.