ISLAMABAD: Severe flooding disrupted life across New Delhi on Monday, forcing airlines to divert flights and leaving residents struggling with waterlogged streets and overwhelmed drainage systems as India’s annual monsoon season intensifies.
The flooding killed at least two people, according to Hindustan Times, while damaging residential and commercial properties across New Delhi and neighboring Gurugram, a major financial and technology hub.
Floodwater entered homes and submerged vehicles in several neighborhoods across the capital. A residential building collapsed in Old Delhi’s Chandni Mahal district, destroying three motorcycles, according to India Today. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi had previously issued a structural notice for the building.
The metropolitan region, home to around 32 million people, relies on drainage systems built decades ago. Residents blamed inadequate sewage and drainage infrastructure for widespread waterlogging and said repeated complaints about the problem had gone unaddressed for years, according to Hindustan Times.
India’s monsoon season typically runs from June through September. The India Meteorological Department recorded 204.1 millimeters of rain at its Safdarjung weather station through Friday, equivalent to 90% of the station’s monthly average and the highest rainfall recorded during the first eight days of August since 2011.
Indira Gandhi International Airport diverted 15 flights during the heaviest rainfall, according to The Hindu. Twelve flights, including three international services, were diverted to Jaipur, about 260 kilometers south of New Delhi.
Gurugram’s ultra-luxury residential developments, marketed to wealthy members of the Indian diaspora and international buyers, also sustained significant property damage. Homes in some of the city’s gated developments are valued at around $12 million, The New Indian Express reported.
The district administration ordered offices to implement work-from-home protocols and schools to shift to online classes after rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems.
The India Meteorological Department issued red and orange weather alerts warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and winds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Verma, who belongs to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said preparations had improved, according to several Indian news outlets. He acknowledged that rural areas surrounding Delhi remained vulnerable but did not directly address reported failures in urban areas.
The flooding has renewed concerns over infrastructure reliability in India’s capital region. Tribune India noted that persistent seasonal waterlogging in a major financial and commercial hub raises questions about the resilience of its urban infrastructure.