Delhi LG Orders War-Footing Response to Record Rainfall

Lieutenant Governor Sardar TS Sandhu ordered a war-footing response to manage severe waterlogging in New Delhi after record rainfall crippled the capital. During a review meeting on Tuesday, Sandhu directed all departmental and agency heads to remain physically present on the ground round the clock to oversee remedial measures and expedite pump installations. He called for a whole-of-government approach to overcome a near-total collapse of drainage infrastructure that he attributed to a decade of inaction.

While New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal noted that desilting and upgrades kept areas like Khan Market and Golf Links clear, other major hubs including Parliament Street and Connaught Place suffered significant flooding. NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi apologized for delays in clearing water, admitting that some areas took over an hour to drain despite typical 20-minute turnaround times. Dwivedi noted that over 72 mm of rain fell in less than two hours but stated the intensity cannot be an excuse for the failure.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma confirmed the government is implementing long-term infrastructure projects, including new sewer lines, to address chronic drainage issues. The NDMC pledged to strengthen its systems to ensure citizens do not face similar inconveniences in the future.