Delhi Faces Double Whammy: Heavy Rains and Airport Incident Bring Chaos

Record rainfall causes severe water-logging, power outages, and six deaths. Terminal 1 canopy collapse leads to one fatality, flight disruptions, and a war room for passenger refunds.

Story: Anjali Soni

Edit: Nitya Kaimal

New Delhi – Delhi is reeling from severe disruptions following record-breaking rainfall and a tragic incident at the city’s airport. The capital received 228.1 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, the highest single-day rainfall in June in 88 years. The downpour has led to significant waterlogging, power cuts, and disruptions in water supply, compounding the city’s woes.

Heavy Rains Cause Chaos

• ➢  Waterlogging: Several parts of the city are underwater, with residents wading through waist-deep water.
• ➢  Power Cuts: Prolonged power outages have affected many areas.
• ➢  Water Supply Disruption: A fault at the Chandrawal WW-II pump house has affected the water supply in several areas.
• ➢  Casualties: At least six people have died in rain-related incidents:
• ➢  Two children drowned in a water-filled ditch in New Usmanpur.
• ➢  A man drowned at a flooded underpass in Shalimar Bagh.
• ➢  Three labourers died under the debris of a collapsed wall in Vasant Vihar 
• Damage to Property: Trees have been uprooted, causing damage to properties and cars
• Rescue Operations: Passengers stuck inside a bus under a flooded underpass in Kishanganj were rescued by police and rescue teams.
• ➢  Government Response: A 24-hour control room has been established to monitor the situation, and mobile pumps have been deployed to pump out water. Quick response teams have been formed to address waterlogging complaints.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued light to moderate rainfall over the next five days, with some areas expected to experience heavy showers until July 1. The Delhi Jal Board reported disruptions in water supply due to a fault at the Chandrawal WW-II pump house, affecting many areas of the city. Efforts to address the waterlogging include the deployment of mobile pumps and quick response teams by the MCD and PWD. A 24-hour control room has been established by the Delhi government to monitor the situation, and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has directed officials to set up an emergency control room and deploy static pumps.

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Airport Canopy Collapse

Adding to the chaos, a canopy collapse at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport early Friday morning resulted in one death and injuries to several others. The incident occurred during the heavy rain, with the deceased identified as Ramesh Kumar, a cab driver from Rohini. The collapse, which occurred in the forecourt area of the terminal, caused significant disruption to flight operations, leading to the temporary closure of Terminal 1. All flight operations have been shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced the establishment of a war room to ensure refunds or alternate flights for affected passengers within seven days. The minister expressed condolences for the loss of life and assured proactive measures to prevent future incidents. A special team from IIT Delhi’s structural engineering department has been brought in for an initial inspection report, and a broader inspection of all airports across the country is underway.

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Passengers affected by the terminal closure are being accommodated with refunds or alternate flights, and a circular has been issued to airlines to prevent fare hikes during this period.

The IMD attributes the intense rainfall to multiple large-scale monsoonal weather systems, supported by thermodynamic instability in the atmosphere. The city remains on high alert as authorities continue to manage the aftermath of the heavy rains and airport incident.