By IANS,
New Delhi : Normal life was thrown out of gear and commuters were stranded on the roads for hours in the national capital Thursday, as six-year high rainfall for the month of May clogged roads and blocked traffic.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city has received over 105 mm of rainfall this month.
“The city has received a six-year high rainfall. In last few decades, May 2002 had received more rains than this year,” an IMD official said. Delhi had then recorded 129.3 mm rain fall, an all-time high.
Met officials said Delhi, since Wednesday evening, had recorded over 40 mm of rainfall.
It made life difficult of people thanks to civic infrastructure problems.
Many roads in ITO, Patparganj, Noida Mod, Moolchand, Munirka, Jia Sarai, South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, Palam, Chittaranjan Park, Janakpuri, Pankha Road, Rohini, Pitampura, Ghazipur and all arterial roads connecting the capital’s business hub Connaught Place were under almost knee-deep water.
“While returning home, I was held up for almost 45 minutes near ITO. The roads were clogged, the traffic lights were non-functional, traffic police were nowhere in sight. To add to the problem, motorists were honking like anything,” Arun Roy said.
IMD officials said the severe rain and squall were due to a low-pressure area over the city and warned the situation may not improve over the weekend.
The weather office said that despite rain, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, four degrees more than Wednesday.
However, it was 12 degrees below the normal level. The minimum temperature Thursday was recorded at 20.5 degrees Celsius, five degrees below the normal level.
Airport officials said rain did not disrupt any flight schedule.
“Other than routine air congestion, there was no delay due to rain. No flight was cancelled,” an airport official said.