Double Whammy! Covid-Hit Delhi In For Rain Pain

Authorities struggle to fix potholes and unclog drains as funds spent on fighting virus. Fumigation hit too while city enters season of dengue and chikungunya outbreaks

- Ajay Kumar, Ram Kinkar Singh and Sushant Mehra

There has been 50% less than expected rain in Delhi where monsoon reached on June 25, two days before its scheduled arrival. But the weather is most likely to make up for this deficit, starting today.

“A fresh spell of light to moderate showers is expected in the National Capital from July 17 to July 20. We expect to record 20 mm of rainfall which will reduce the deficiency to a certain extent,” said senior IMD official Kuldeep Srivastava.

While this may bring some respite amid hot and humid conditions, what is also feared is monsoon mayhem: water-logging and traffic jams, amid an outbreak of dengue and chikungunya cases.

A total of 38 cases of malaria and 22 of dengue have already been reported. The vector-borne diseases hit the city hard during the period between July and October every year.

But this time the situation is likely to be worse as authorities are struggling to fix potholes and unclog drains. Reason: most of the funds have been spent on fighting the coronavirus.

Fumigation drives have also been hit hard while the city has already entered the season of deadly dengue and chikungunya outbreaks.

COMPLAINTS ABOUND

Residents complained that drains are choked in most neighbourhoods. The state of general sanitation has also left much to be desired.

“Our neighbourhood has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Sanitation workers had come once in the initial period of lockdown. Since then, no one has come yet,” said LR Garg, president, confederation of senior citizens’ association of Delhi and resident of Munirka.