Delhi experienced a torrential downpour on Friday, recording its heaviest June rainfall since 1936. The deluge, a result of the southwest monsoon’s full arrival, led to widespread disruption and tragedy in the city. One person was killed, and eight others were injured when a portion of the roof at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed. The incident halted all flight departures from the terminal until 2 pm, and the area was evacuated as an inquiry into the collapse was launched. Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, swiftly visited the site and later checked on the injured at Safdarjung Hospital.
Across Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida, the relentless rains caused severe waterlogging and traffic snarls, prompting Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to order the establishment of a 24/7 emergency control room and demand the completion of desilting works within a week. A meeting was scheduled for Delhi’s ministers to address the emergency response.
In South Extension, Jangpura, Defence Colony, and other areas, lawyers and office workers faced significant damage. Basements flooded, submerging furniture and important documents. Senior advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi, whose office was affected, lamented the loss of rare books collected over her 24-year career. “My staff says books are floating in the office,” she remarked, highlighting the extent of the damage.
The India Meteorological Department’s Safdarjung station recorded 228 mm of rain in 24 hours, marking the highest June rainfall in Delhi in 88 years. This unprecedented downpour also led to a fatal accident; Rajesh Kumar, a 39-year-old man, was electrocuted while navigating a waterlogged road on his way to work. According to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (DDL), the electrocution resulted from faulty internal wiring at a private shop, which allowed current to pass through a tin shed and metal poles. The responsibility, they stated, lay with the shop’s owner or occupant.
This weather event has highlighted the city’s vulnerabilities and the urgent need for infrastructure improvements to handle such extreme conditions. The heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding underscore the challenges Delhi faces in adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. The city’s response to this crisis will be crucial in mitigating future risks and protecting its residents.