Highest Rain On A Sept Day In 19 Yrs Overwhelms City

Major Roads Under Water, Traffic Stalled

DRAINS CAN HANDLE 50MM RAIN, FLOODED BY 112

Normal rainfall for entire Sept is 125.1 mm, but Safdarjung received 188.6mm till 5.30 pm on Wednesday, thus already clocking a 45% monthly surplus in just 33 hours

The capital recorded its 2nd consecutive ‘heavy rainfall’ spell on Wednesday and the sixth so far this monsoon

Its 40-yr-old creaking drainage system can handle a daily rainfall of up to 50mm, but got 112mm in 24 hours

Met dept forecast moderate rain or thundershowers today and light rain Friday. It may intensify on Aug 7

New Delhi: The highest single-day rainfall in September in 19 years brought the city to its knees Wednesday, once again flooding major arteries, colonies, homes and shops, disrupting normal life. Major traffic jams were reported across the city and commuters were left stranded for hours.

Safdarjung, which is the base station for Delhi, had received 112.1 mm of rain till 8.30 am on Wednesday. Before this, the 24-hour highest rainfall in September had been recorded on September 13, 2002, at 126.8 mm.

Since Safdarjung recorded 76.5 mm rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, it has crossed its monthly normal of 125.1 mm in just 33 hours of rain and is now placed in the ‘excess’ category at 45%. This was the capital’s second consecutive ‘heavy’ rain day and sixth this monsoon.

The heavy rain exposed the city’s poor drainage system which, despite several plans over the years, simply collapses during monsoon. The four-decade-old drainage system can cater to a daily rainfall of up to 50mm only.