Every year the Monsoon season in Delhi NCR brings a host of challenges and difficulties for its residents. This time again it pounded Delhi-NCR badly and paralyzed daily life of people dropping bombshells on the hustling bustling of weekend markets. Schools in Delhi NCR remained closed and administration appealed residents not to leave their houses except for essential work. The incessant rains caused catastrophic devastation in the hill and plains of North India for the last three days. It unleashed death and destruction, with around 38 lost their lives in landslides and other rain-related incidents. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are on their toes in four North Indian states (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana) to fend off challenges of heavy downpours and floods.

It was a rare occurrence that monsoons landed in Delhi and Mumbai last weekend on the same day. But it is not rare that mayhem follows every arrival of the monsoon. Roads turning into rivers, drains overflowing, traffic congestion and failure of signals, accidental fall into invisible coverless manholes, waterlogging, downstairs houses being inundated with rainwater even in posh areas of Delhi-NCR, falling trees, and electrocution: these are annual phenomenon that taxpayers of national capita and surrounding areas have to confront. The administrative slackness and civil society apathy are exposed once again. In every such situation, “Tu-Tu, Main-Main” over political claims surfaces rubbing salts over the wounds of people who are bound to suffer monsoon woes every year.

Delhi deluge

The monsoonal rainfall caught civic authorities in Delhi vastly unprepared to handle the water woes. Delhi witnesses waterlogging and poor drainage system annually during the monsoon. However, the national capital is yet to get a Drainage Master Plan to tackle such a situation. Delhi’s drains are said to be quite old which cannot handle deluge-like situations. People strongly feel that the lackadaisical attitude of MCD has caused such sufferings as drains are clogged and they have not been desilted before the arrival of monsoon.

Gasping Gurugram

People in Gurugram underwent a harrowing experience as torrential rains caused severe waterlogging that led to huge inconvenience to commuters. Waterlogging also caused power outages in some parts of the satellite town. The Gurugram administration had to issue a work-from-home advisory to corporate and private offices in the face of heavy rainfalls. As per media reports, civic agencies have spent over Rs 1000 crore on drainage, yet people have to face the threat of waterlogging. A single heavy bout of rain turns roads into rivers. Residents have poured out their anger saying that the situation remains the same despite authorities spending crores on upgrading infrastructure every year.

Rampant urbanization

Delhi NCR has experienced rapid population growth and urban expansion over the years, leading to the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. This rampant urbanization has encroached upon lakes, ponds, and wetlands, which traditionally served as natural water reservoirs and helped in water absorption during heavy rains. The loss of these natural water bodies has resulted in reduced water retention capacity and increased surface runoff, exacerbating the problem of waterlogging.

Administrative apathy

The pollution levels in Delhi NCR also contribute to Monsoon woes. The region already battles severe air pollution, which is primarily caused by vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and construction dust. During the Monsoon season, when the air is cooler and heavier, the pollutants get trapped closer to the ground, worsening the air quality. This phenomenon, known as the “Monsoon pollution trap,” leads to reduced visibility, respiratory problems, and overall discomfort for the residents. Additionally, the Monsoon season often exposes the inadequate solid waste management practices in the region. Improper disposal of waste, including plastic bags, bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials, leads to their accumulation in drains and water bodies. These clogged drains prevent proper water flow, exacerbating the problem of waterlogging. Furthermore, the stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying vectors, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

Need of monsoon wedding between words & actions

A combination of factors leads to Monsoon woes in Delhi NCR. These include inadequate drainage systems, rapid urbanization and encroachment of natural water bodies, pollution levels, improper solid waste management practices, the impact of climate change, slackness of authorities concerned and lack of political will. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving investments in infrastructure development, sustainable urban planning, improved waste management practices, and measures to mitigate climate change. Instead of playing blame games, there must be a monsoon wedding between words and actions to make Delhi NCR more vibrant and livable. By addressing these challenges, Delhi NCR can better prepare itself to tackle Monsoon-related issues and ensure the well-being of its residents during the rainy season.

– RAMAKANT CHAUDHARY

Ramakant Chaudhary works with PR Professionals as DGM-Content Development, and has worked in various editorial roles with Financial Express, Mint (Hindustan Times Group), The Times Of India, Jagran Post (Dainik Jagran Group), The Pioneer, and The Political and Business Daily. He writes on politics, government policy, economy, infrastructure, real estate, social issues, lifestyle, and health

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The intensity of the rain is likely to reduce from Wednesday, with the weather bureau issuing a yellow alert for Mumbai.

Moderate to a few intense spells, accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning, hit parts of Mumbai and neighbouring areas on Monday evening. Between 5 pm and 7 pm, Bandra recorded 20.2 mm, Santacruz 16.6 mm, Ram Mandir 28.5 mm and Thane and Kalyan between 40 mm to 70 mm of rainfall.

For the coastal districts – Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg – IMD has predicted extremely heavy rainfall (above 204 mm) on Tuesday.

“Given the low pressure area formed in north-west Bay of Bengal, parts of Konkan-Goa and adjoining ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra are very likely to receive enhanced rainfall activity during the next two days with a gradual reduction thereafter,” said IMD.

With the formation of the low pressure area, south-westerly monsoon flow is expected to strengthen, leading to an increase in rainfall activity in the state.

According to the forecast for Mumbai, occasional gusty winds with speed reaching 45 kmph to 55 kmph, along and off the coast, may damage vulnerable and temporary structures. With heavy to very heavy rainfall warning, flooding and traffic disruptions are also likely on Tuesday.

After above-average rainfall in August, Palghar, Mumbai and Raigad recorded deficient rainfall in September. Mumbai received 123.6 mm of rain between September 1 and 21, which is 46 per cent below the average (229.7 mm) for the same period. It had received 3261.3 mm rain since June 1, which is 55 per cent above the average mark.

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• The monsoon trough is active and near to its normal position. It is likely to be active and meandre around its normal position during next 4-5 days.
• Convergence of strong southerly/southwesterly winds from Arabian sea over northwest and adjoining central India very likely during next 3-4 days.
• An east-west shear zone runs along Latitude 18ºN in the middle tropospheric levels and likely to persist during next 2 days.
• A Low Pressure Area is very likely to develop over Northwest Bay of Bengal around 13th August leading to strengthening of the monsoon flow over northern parts of the West coast and over the North Bay of Bengal during 13th-15th August, 2020.

Under the influence of the above meterological conditions:

i. Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over major parts of Northwest India (Western Himalayan region, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh) during 12th-15th August 2020.

ii. Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Gujarat state, East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during 11th -15th August and over northern parts of Konkan & Goa, during 14th-15th August. Isolated extremely heavy falls also likely over Gujarat state & East Rajasthan.

iii. In association with low pressure area, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Odisha and Chhattisgarh during 14th-16th August 2020.

heavy rainfall was likely in isolated places of coastal Maharashtra, including Mumbai, till August 15.
While Mumbai is expected to receive light to moderate showers, neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri may witness heavy rains at isolated places, an IMD official said.

“A similar forecast has been issued for Pune, Kolhapur and Satara districts as well till August 15. However, districts in North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha may receive light to moderate rainfall in the same period,” the official said.

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KS Hosalikar, the Deputy Director General of Meteorology, India Met Department, Mumbai, has tweeted the amount and intensity of rainfall in Mumbai and the suburbs in the last 24 hours. Colaba, Kandivali, Borivali, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Chembur and Nerul are some of the localities that recorded very heavy rainfall.

Mumbai and around rains in last 24 hrs on 28th July.
— K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) July 28, 2020

Mr Hosalikar also said, on August 1, Mumbai, Thane and the Konkan coast are likely to receive very heavy rainfall.

Skymetweather said isolated spells of rain might continue for the next 3 to 4 days over Mumbai and suburbs, but the overall intensity of rain would remain subdued. Parts of financial capital Mumbai, including Dadar and Hindmata areas, faced severe waterlogging following heavy rainfall in the region. This caused severe inconvenience to people who were out on the streets headed towards their work.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic congestion was seen in the Vashi area of Navi Mumbai after a spell of rain.

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The western end of monsoon trough lies to the south of its normal position and its eastern end lies near to its normal position. It is very likely to shift northwards towards the foothills of Himalayas from 09th July onwards.

In addition, moist southwesterly/southerly winds from Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels very likely to converge over northeast & adjoining east India from today, the 8th July and southwesterly/southerly winds from Arabian sea very likely to converge over northwest India from 09th July , 2020 onwards.

Under the influence of above synoptic conditions, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over Western Himalayan Region, northern parts of Punjab & Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim and northeastern states during 9th to 12th July 2020.

Isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) are also very likely over Uttarakhand on 11th & 12th; over East Uttar Pradesh during 10th to 12th; over Bihar on 10th & 11th; over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh during 09th to 11th July, 2020.

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“The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal,” a MeT official said.

Humidity level was recorded at 100 per cent.

The Safdarjung observatory received 6 mm rainfall, Palam observatory recorded 5.3 mm while the the Ridge area received 6.8 mm rainfall. The rainfall recorded at Lodhi Road and Aya Nagar observatories was 10 mm and 5.6 mm respectively.

The weatherman has predicted heavy downpour throughout the day with possibility of hailstorm in isolated areas.

“The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 16 and 8 degrees Celsius respectively,” the official added.

According to railway officials, 16 trains were running late in the Northern Railways division due to bad weather.

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Fishermen have been asked to return to the shores and all the district administrations have been asked to stay alert.

On Sunday, Indian Coast Guard had deployed seven ships and two plane off Gujarat coast to warn fishing boats at sea and advising them to return to the nearest port in the wake of cyclone Maha.

#MahaCyclone @IndiaCoastGuard has deployed 7 ships & 2 Aircraft off Gujarat coast for warning fishing boats at sea and advising them to return to the nearest port. #ICG assets continue to be on high alert and are kept standby for immediate mobilisation @DefenceMinIndia @CMOGuj,” tweeted Coast Guard.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that severe cyclonic storm Maha over East Central Arabian Sea moved westwards and intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm at 2:30 pm on Sunday over East Central Arabian Sea about 590 km WSW of Veraval, Gujarat.

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Typhoon Hagibis made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday, bringing heavy rains and causing floods. Nearly 26 people have been killed and hundreds injured due to the destruction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths due to the cyclone on Sunday. Meanwhile Japan Stareted to rescue operation at large-scale as  the death toll from a ferocious typhoon climbed to at least 35. Public broadcaster NHK said 14 rivers across the nation had flooded, some spilling out in more than one spot.

The Tokyo Fire Department said a woman in her 70s was accidentally dropped 40 meters (131 feet) to the ground while being transported into a rescue helicopter in Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture, a northern area devastated by the typhoon.

She was rushed to a hospital but died, a department official said. “The major typhoon has caused immense damage far and wide in eastern Japan,” government official Yoshihide Suga told reporters, adding that 27,000 military troops and other rescue crews were taking part in the operation.

News footage showed a rescue helicopter hovering in a flooded area in Nagano prefecture where an embankment of the Chikuma River broke, and streams of water were continuing to spread over residential areas. The chopper plucked those stranded on the second floor of a home submerged in muddy waters.

Aerial footage showed tractors at work trying to control the flooding and several people on a rooftop, with one waving white cloth to get the attention of a helicopter. Nearby was a child’s school bag. In another part, rows of Japan’s prized bullet trains, parked in a facility, were sitting in a pool of water.

A stretch of Fukushima, in the city of Date, was also flooded with only rooftops of residential homes visible in some areas, and rescuers paddled in boats to get people out. Parts of nearby Miyagi prefecture were also under water.

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Restoration works have been on in full-swing since Monday and government relief workers have been hard at work, trying to pump the water out of the localities. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Patna, Vaishali and Khagaria districts again . The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued more then  ten thousand people from the state capital till today. Five teams were deployed in Patna’s Rajendra Nagar and Kankarbagh alone to aid people. The Indian Air Force have also been air dropping relief material to the flood-affected areas.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar waded through water-logged street supervising rescue and rehabilitation work. “All possible efforts are being made. People are urged to have patience. The worst affected localities like Rajendra Nagar and Kankar Bagh are in low-lying areas .

“It was after a long time that the city was lashed by a torrent of this size,” he had said to reporters .

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Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has declared a holiday in schools and colleges of Pune city,  Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli Tehsils. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolence over the loss of lives due to rains and said that the government is providing all the necessary help. 

Three NDRF teams have been deployed in Pune and Baramati to carry out search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the state government is also closely monitoring the dam discharge, Fadnavis said.

Six people were killed after a wall collapsed in Sahkarnagar area on Wednesday while four others died in other rain-related incidents. Almost 150 houses are damaged due to a sudden flow of water from upstream with full force. On Thursday morning, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered a body from a vehicle in a canal near Sinhagad road in Pune. On Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted severe thunderstorm in Mumbai and adjoining regions of Maharashtra.

Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in parts of Pune city. Several low-lying areas in and around Pune were flooded as heavy rain lashed the city, news agency ANI reported. At least eleven people have lost their lives in different rain-related incidents in Pune since Wednesday. While five people were killed after a wall collapsed in Sahakar Nagar area following heavy rainfall on Wednesday, one person was found dead in the same locality. Another body was found in a car which was washed away near Sinhgad road.In view of the bad weather, Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has declared holiday on Thursday in all schools and colleges in Purandar, Baramati, Bhor and Haveli tehsil.

Water-logging was reported in Sinhgad Road, Dhanakwadi, Balajinagar, Ambegaon, Sahakar Nagar, Parvati, Kolhewadi and Kirkatwadi. Fire Brigade chief Prashant Ranpise said that officials are helping the people stranded in flooded areas. In Kshitij Society of Bibwewadi region, a tree collapsed of parked vehicles causing heavy damages. In Hinjewadi and Wakad, rains caused heavy traffic jam in the evening. Several commuters including employees of major IT companies were left stranded for hours.

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