Delhi’s first major monsoon showers on Wednesday evening left the city stranded, battling severe waterlogging issues and hours-long traffic snarls across the national capital. Criticising the tall claims by the Delhi Government of “no waterlogging this year”.
File Photo: IANS
Delhi’s first major monsoon showers on Wednesday evening left the city stranded, battling severe waterlogging issues and hours-long traffic snarls across the national capital. Criticising the tall claims by the Delhi Government of “no waterlogging this year”, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders (BJP) for “staging photo sessions instead of clearing drains”.
In a media interaction, Bharadwaj stated, “For months, all we saw were photo ops in the name of desilting. The LG went, the Chief Minister went, ministers went, even senior officers paraded for cameras. They all claimed Delhi would never flood again.”
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He further questioned the role of the Public Works Department (PWD) and its minister, pointing to an earlier statement by BJP minister Parvesh Verma. “BJP Minister Parvesh Verma even said he had 400 suspension letters ready for officers who fail to prevent waterlogging. Now that entire Delhi is flooded, how many officers have actually been suspended?” Bharadwaj asked.
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The AAP Delhi President took to the microblogging site X and shared photos and videos highlighting children rowing makeshift boats and the extent of waterlogging in several areas, including Alaknanda, Greater Kailash, Shahdara Bridge, Patparganj, and Shalimar Bagh—the assembly constituency of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. He also raised concerns about emergency response delays, posting videos of ambulances stuck in traffic near Patel Nagar and Chattarpur Metro Station, allegedly due to poor drainage, mismanaged traffic flow, and potholes on roads.
Former Delhi Mayor and AAP leader from East Patel Nagar, Shelly Oberoi, also raised an alarm over the situation. In a letter to Delhi Jal Board Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, she flagged the collapse of the drainage system in East and West Patel Nagar, urging immediate intervention. “Broken roads, rampant waterlogging, and severe monsoon flooding have made life extremely difficult for residents. The situation is worsening by the day. Immediate intervention is not just necessary — it’s urgent,” she wrote.
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