Heavy rainfall drenched several parts of Delhi on Wednesday, offering respite from the summer heat but bringing with it severe waterlogging that disrupted traffic and inconvenienced residents across the national capital.
The city has been witnessing uneven rainfall over the past few days, leading to flooding in multiple low-lying areas. Notably, visuals of severe waterlogging in Connaught Place — one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs — sparked political reactions and drew criticism from opposition leaders.
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal slammed the BJP-led Delhi government and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over the state of infrastructure and the capital’s repeated failure to handle monsoon downpours.
Sharing a video of submerged streets in Connaught Place on social media platform X, Kejriwal wrote, “When this is the condition of Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi, it’s not hard to imagine the state of the rest of Delhi. Just 10 minutes of rain and the roads have turned into ponds. In 5 months, where has the BJP brought Delhi to? Is this the speed of the ‘4-engine’ government?”
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also took a dig at Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, referring to their earlier visit to the ITO area on July 9 to inspect anti-waterlogging measures.
“This is Delhi’s ITO. On July 9, LG Sahab and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma visited to inspect waterlogging work, congratulating each other on the good work. Today, with waterlogging again, please accept my congratulations as well,” Bhardwaj posted sarcastically on X.
Responding to the situation, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the waterlogged ITO area on Tuesday to assess the ground reality. She assured citizens that efforts were underway to address the recurring issue.
“Today, a surprise inspection of the waterlogging situation was conducted in ITO. Interacted with local people to gather information about the actual situation. Clear instructions have been given to officials to ensure prompt water drainage during heavy rainfall,” CM Gupta posted on X.
She further stated that the Delhi government is identifying chronic waterlogging zones and working on implementing long-term solutions. These include modern drainage systems, real-time monitoring, and rapid response teams.
“Our goal is a Delhi where the monsoon becomes a relief, not a trouble,” Gupta added.
Despite these assurances, Wednesday’s downpour has once again highlighted Delhi’s ongoing struggle with monsoon preparedness — turning a seasonal shower into a fresh flashpoint in the city’s political landscape.
