All agencies busy controlling Covid; must work together: Delhi CM Kejriwal on waterlogging

At least two people were reported dead on Sunday as heavy rain flooded some of the roads and localities in Delhi and the neighbouring areas. Commenting on the waterlogging, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this year, all agencies, be it Delhi government or MCD, were busy controlling Coronavirus and there should be no blame game among the authorities.

'Everyone has to fulfil responsibilities together '

Kejriwal said that the agencies faced many difficulties due to the virus. "This is not the time to blame each other. Everyone has to fulfil their responsibilities together. Wherever water is filled, we will try to remove it immediately," the CM said in a tweet in Hindi.

The Delhi CM also said that the road under Minto Bridge has been cleared of waterlogging. "I was in contact with agencies since morning and was monitoring the process of removing water. We're keeping an eye on more such places in Delhi. Wherever there is waterlogging, it is being pumped out immediately," he said.

Heavy rains lash Delhi-NCR

The national capital and adjoining areas, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department, received heavy rainfall during the early hours of Sunday. Besides issues with the civic amenities, in another incident, a man was found dead at the Minto Bridge area. Identified as Kundan Singh, aged 60, allegedly drowned and died in the waterlogged area following heavy rainfall this morning.

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Earlier in the day, a bus got stuck in a waterlogged road under Minto Bridge, following which fire department personnel arrived at the site to rescue people on-board. Singh's body was found floating in front of the bus. 

Till 5:30 am, the Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded 4.9 mm rainfall. The Palam weather station gauged 3.8 mm precipitation. According to the IMD, the Safdarjung Observatory has recorded 47.9 mm rainfall in July so far, which is 56% less than the normal of 109.4 mm. Palam and Lodhi Road weather stations have recorded 38 and 49% less rains in July. Srivastava said the fresh spell of rains will reduce the deficit to some extent.

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(With agency inputs)