NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced that all schools in Delhi will be closed on Monday due to the continuous rainfall in the national capital.
The chief minister tweeted in Hindi, stating, "In view of the torrential rains in the last two days and keeping in mind the warnings of the meteorological department, all schools will remain closed on Monday".
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi received 153mm of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30am on Sunday, marking the highest recorded rainfall in a single day in July since 1982.
Public works department (PWD) minister Atishi inspected waterlogged areas at ITO.
In the past 24 hours, a significant downpour exceeding 150mm has been recorded, surpassing a 40-year record. As a result, we are actively engaged in making all the essential preparations to address the impact of this rainfall. Since early morning, all ministers have been personally present on the field, overseeing the necessary arrangements, the minister said.
The heavy rainfall in Delhi is a result of the interaction between a Western Disturbance and monsoonal winds, causing an intense spell of rainfall across northwest India. Saturday witnessed the first instance of "very heavy" rainfall this season in Delhi.
According to a senior official from the IMD, the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 153 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday. This figure surpasses the previous record of 169.9 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period on July 25, 1982.
Moderate to heavy rain continued to lash the national capital and its adjoining areas since Saturday morning.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to the lieutenant governor of Delhi and enquired about the situation in the wake of the incessant rains.
Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the India Meteorological Department said.
An interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is leading to an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Delhi which experienced the season's first "very heavy" rainfall.
The downpour slowed down the traffic movement after waterlogging in parts of the city.
Pictures and videos of commuters wading through knee-deep water flooded social media platforms, raising concerns about the efficiency of the city's drainage infrastructure.
Strong winds and showers also caused disruptions in power and internet connectivity in several areas.
"Thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of isolated places of Delhi," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a tweet on Sunday morning.
Places, where the rainfall has been predicted, include Narela, Alipur, Rohini, Badili, Pitampura, Paschim Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Kashmiri Gate, Seelampur, Rajauri Garden, Red Fort, Rajeev Chauk, ITO, Jafarpur.
Two electrocuted in sperate incidents in east DelhiA 60-year-old worker was electrocuted while working in the kitchen of a cafe in east Delhi's Preet Vihar area, police said on Sunday. Satender Negi, a resident of Mandawali, got electrocuted apparently by a geyser power board in the kitchen while keeping utensils in the rack at the cafe, they said.
Negi, who worked as a peon at the cafe in Block A of Preet Vihar, was rushed to Metro Hospital where he was declared brought dead, they said.
Two boys rescued after tin shed collapses in west DelhiTwo eight-year-old boys were rescued after a tin shed collapsed at Zakhira in west Delhi's Moti Nagar on Sunday, a day after the city was lashed by heavy rains, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying.
According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials, search-and-rescue operations were carried out to ascertain if more people were trapped under the debris.
However, the operation was concluded by 11.35am and the two boys trapped under the debris were safely rescued. Since they had sustained minor injuries, they were admitted to a nearby hospital.
The boys were identified as Aalam and Maraluddin, the officials said, adding that one of the fire operators -- Daljeet -- sustained injuries during the rescue operation.
Delhi records highest single-day rainfall for July since 1982: IMD
Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in 24 hours ending 8.30am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, reported news agency PTI quoting India Meteorological Department.
An interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is leading to an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Delhi which experienced the season's first "very heavy" rainfall.
The Safdarjung Observatory, the city's primary weather station, recorded 153 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8.30am on Sunday, the highest since the 24-hour rainfall of 169.9 mm on July 25, 1982, a senior IMD official said.
It was the third-highest single-day rainfall for July since 1958, it added.
The city logged 133.4 mm of rain on July 10, 2003, 126 mm on July 28, 2009, and 125.7 mm on July 8, 1993. The all-time high of 266.2 mm on July 21, 1958.
2 injured as house collapses in Zakhira
Two people got injured after a house collapsed in Delhi's Zakhira area due to heavy rain on Sunday, reported news agency ANI quoting Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials.
"The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received the information about a house collapse at 9.34am in the Zakhira locality of Delhi on July 9," added the officials.
During the search, two people were rescued from the debris, and search for other people is being carried out.
"Two persons were taken out and rushed to the hospital. Search for other casualties continues," said the officials.
Rain likely over next 2-3 days
The Met Office has issued a yellow alert, warning of moderate rain which could cause more problems to the residents of Delhi.
The IMD has issued a forecast of high-intensity rain for 2-3 days in Delhi.
"This week, northwest India, including Delhi, will witness rain, the intensity of the rain will be high for 2-3 days, and the intensity will reduce after that. There will be some relief from the heat during this period," Charan Singh, head of IMD, Delhi, said on Saturday.
'Delhi ministers, mayor to inspect problem areas'
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday urged officials and ministers to conduct thorough inspections of areas in the national capital that have been affected by rainfall.
"Delhi received 126 mm of rain yesterday. 15% of the total rainfall of the monsoon season fell in just 12 hours. People were very upset due to waterlogging. Today, all the ministers and mayor of Delhi will inspect the problem areas. Officers of all departments have been instructed to cancel the Sunday holiday and get on the ground," tweeted Kejriwal.
9-hour deluge
A nine-hour deluge on Saturday flooded city roads and underpasses, stalled traffic for hours and caused severe damage with walls collapsing and trees toppling over. It also claimed the life of a woman in a house collapse in Karol Bagh.
It was the heaviest downpour of the season and highest for a July day in 20 years. Between 8. 30am and 5. 30pm, the city’s base station of Safdarjung logged 126. 1mm of rainfall.
According to IMD, rainfall of 133. 4mm had been recorded on July 10, 2003. However, that day it had poured for 24 hours — not comparable to what happened on Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)
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