The Delhi government took swift action on Sunday following severe waterlogging at Minto Bridge, ordering the immediate suspension of the Junior Engineer and the pump operator responsible for the site, government sources confirmed.
Minto Bridge, a railway bridge located above Vivekananda Road, has a history of waterlogging and related traffic disruptions. The recent heavy rains and strong winds that hit Delhi early Sunday morning caused significant water accumulation under the bridge, leading to traffic congestion and safety concerns.
In response, the Delhi government has also issued a show-cause notice to the Assistant Engineer citing “supervisory lapses.” Additionally, the Executive Engineer has been directed to submit a detailed report on preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future. The Engineer-in-Chief has been instructed to enforce strict compliance and ensure such occurrences are not repeated across the city.
The waterlogging severely affected other parts of the national capital, including ITO, Dhaula Kuan, Subroto Park, Nanakpura Underpass, and Chanakyapuri, leading to widespread traffic snarls. Visuals from Delhi Cantt showed vehicles, including a bus, stranded in knee-deep water at an underpass, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The incident drew sharp criticism from political leaders. Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the absence of Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, accusing him of being “missing” during the crisis. “Where has PWD Minister Parvesh Verma gone missing?” Bharadwaj posted on X.
Similarly, Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Atishi demanded accountability, questioning if Minister Verma would be removed for his lack of presence and monitoring on the ground. “Why is he hiding even after waterlogging has occurred?” she asked.
The heavy rains came amid a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Delhi and nearby regions on Saturday, warning of strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and high-speed winds. The IMD’s nowcast warned of continued thunderstorm activity and gusty winds up to 30-40 km/h due to cyclonic circulations over Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with rain expected to continue through Sunday.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of the heavy rains, Delhi authorities have pledged to improve infrastructure management and flood prevention measures to mitigate future waterlogging events .
Sources BY Agencies