6 hrs ago
Delhi Rains Flood Airport Ahead of BRICS Summit
Heavy rain caused water to collect on many roads in Delhi.
Areas near the main airport were especially affected.
The Dwarka underpass became flooded, and a bus was briefly stuck there.
Workers used pumps to remove the water.
Some buses were sent along different routes.
Another underpass near Mahipalpur, Mehrauli and Vasant Kunj also had flooding.
Officials disagreed about which agencies were responsible for some of the affected roads and underpasses.
The problem raised concerns because Delhi is preparing to host the BRICS Summit soon.
Heavy rainfall caused severe waterlogging across Delhi, including areas near Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The Dwarka underpass flooded, briefly stranding a Delhi Transport Corporation bus before pumps cleared the water.
An underpass linking Mahipalpur, Mehrauli and Vasant Kunj was also affected.
Public Works Department officials deployed temporary pumps and diverted buses and traffic where necessary.
The flooding raised concerns about inter-agency coordination before the BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13.
- Who
- Delhi Public Works Department officials, traffic authorities, Delhi Transport Corporation, airport-related agencies and other government departments were involved; Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu had recently reviewed the issue.
- What
- Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging and flooding near Indira Gandhi International Airport and elsewhere in Delhi.
- Where
- Affected locations included the Dwarka underpass, areas near Indira Gandhi International Airport, and an underpass connecting Mahipalpur, Mehrauli and Vasant Kunj.
- When
- The flooding occurred on Friday afternoon; the BRICS Summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13, and the review meeting took place on August 26.
- Why
- The rain overwhelmed affected areas and raised concerns about preparedness and coordination among agencies responsible for roads, underpasses and drainage.
Public Works Department Position
Other Agency Responsibility
Responsibility for airport-area flooding
Public Works Department Position
Public Works Department officials said they managed the Dwarka underpass by deploying pumps, clearing water and diverting buses when necessary.
Other Agency Responsibility
Delhi government officials said other affected roads and underpasses around the airport belonged to Delhi International Airport Limited and the National Highways Authority of India, not the Public Works Department.
Cause of the Dwarka flooding
Public Works Department Position
A Public Works Department official attributed the flooding to the underpass's large catchment area and waterlogging in nearby Mehrampur.
Other Agency Responsibility
The broader flooding around the airport was presented as a coordination issue involving multiple agencies, with officials urging them not to work in silos.
Key facts
- Main impact
- Severe waterlogging across several parts of Delhi, especially near Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Affected underpass
- The Dwarka underpass connecting Palam with the IGI domestic area was heavily flooded.
- Emergency response
- Public Works Department teams deployed temporary pumps to clear water.
- Transport disruption
- A Delhi Transport Corporation bus was briefly stranded, and other buses were diverted.
- Other agencies cited
- Officials said some roads and underpasses near the airport belonged to Delhi International Airport Limited and the National Highways Authority of India rather than the Public Works Department.
- BRICS Summit
- The two-day summit is scheduled at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13.
- Coordination review
- Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu held a review meeting on August 26 and called for a whole-of-government approach.
Quotes
Delhi government official
An official representing the Delhi government
“We deployed temporary pumps at the locations to clear out the water. The catchment area of the underpass is big, and due to flooding of the nearby Mehrampur area, there was waterlogging in the tunnel, which was cleared later.”
rediff.com
“The other underpasses and roads belong to DIAL and NHAI agencies, not PWD.”
rediff.com
Sources
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