New Delhi: Heavy rains coupled with powerful winds battered the national capital early Friday (May 2), leading to chaos across Delhi-NCR. Several trees were uprooted, damaging parked vehicles and obstructing key roads, while waterlogging crippled movement in multiple areas.
At Kaveri Apartments in Vasant Kunj, trees collapsed onto parked vehicles, leaving several cars severely damaged. Similar scenes played out in Safdarjung Enclave, where residents reported no official response for hours despite repeated complaints.
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reported receiving nearly 80 calls between 5:00 AM and 10:00 AM related to storm damage, including blocked roads and crushed vehicles.
DFS Director Atul Garg told IANS in a statement, “We received the first call at 5 o’clock, and after that, several more came in. It was a very tough time… I was awake at 5:00 AM.”
Have a look at his entire statement here:
Tragically, four people, including three children, died in Dwarka after a tree fell onto a tubewell structure they were staying in.
Waterlogged Roads and Flight Delays Add to Public Woes
The downpour brought traffic in many parts of the city to a grinding halt. Major roads including the Dwarka Underpass, South Extension, RK Puram, Ring Road, and ITO were submerged, leading to long jams and major delays for commuters. Visuals online showed vehicles trudging through knee-deep water.
Over 200 flights were delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility and wind conditions, compounding the morning misery.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected flooded zones and told PTI, “Delhi is in a very bad state… all departments must treat today’s rain as a warning.” She blamed the situation on legacy issues from previous administrations, adding that “it is our responsibility to fix these arrangements on time.”
The IMD has issued a fresh alert warning of more strong winds and hail over the weekend.
