Delhi rains: AAP slams BJP over waterlogging; L-G praises govt

Criticising the ruling BJP over waterlogging in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday (May 25) termed it a failure of the ‘four-engine’ government.

Also read: 49 flights disrupted, roads flooded, trees uprooted as massive storm lashes Delhi

An overnight thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain disrupted flight operations, uprooted trees and electricity poles, and caused waterlogging in several areas of Delhi.

Power supply disrupted

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi’s primary weather station recorded winds gusting up to 82 kilometres per hour and 81.2 mm of rain in six hours between 11.30 pm on Saturday and 5.30 am on Sunday.

Also read: Two dead, 11 injured in rain-related incidents in Delhi

Power supply was disrupted in many parts of the national capital due to damage caused to electrical installations by the overnight heavy rains and thunderstorm, discoms said on Sunday.

Power supply was disrupted in parts of Bawana, Ghogha village, Sector 25 Rohini, DSIIDC Narela, Sultanpuri, Sector 22 Rohini, Karala, Badli, Siraspur, Avantika, Mangolpuri, RU Block Pitampura and Rithala village among others in north Delhi, said a spokesperson of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL).

"Our teams were immediately pressed into action and restoration work began on priority. As a safety measure, power supply was also temporarily suspended in some areas and restored once conditions normalised," he added.

AAP shares videos of flooding

The AAP released multiple videos on X (formerly Twitter) showing the extent of the flooding.

AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Atishi, former Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, AAP leader Adil Ahmad Khan, and former MLA Gulab Singh Yadav squarely blamed the BJP for the inundation.

After posting a video of waterlogging at ITO, the AAP said, "When Delhiites woke up this morning, they found the city submerged. This is the result of the so-called four-engine government. A little rain and the roads are flooded. These waterlogged streets tell the true story of BJP's broken down four-engine government."

In another video showing a car submerged in water, the AAP said, "Cars and buses are stuck underwater. At one underpass in Delhi Cantonment, a car and a bus were completely submerged. Now Chief Minister Rekha Gupta can visit the spot to take credit for this work." The party also highlighted the situation at Minto Road, which is a chronic waterlogging hotspot.

"Even a little rain caused waterlogging beneath Minto Bridge, where a car got submerged. Just a few days ago, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Minister Parvesh Verma came here for a photoshoot. They did nothing beyond clicking pictures. This is the result," the party said in another post.

Videos from Dhaula Kuan and Chanakyapuri were also shared.

"There's not a single part of Delhi where BJP's failed four-engine government has not caused waterlogging. Even Chanakyapuri, one of the VIP areas of Delhi and home to numerous embassies, was submerged after a light shower," AAP stated.

‘Missing Parvesh Verma’ poster

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj posted a series of videos on X, highlighting the city's plight.

"This is BJP's four-engine rule in Delhi: tap water in every house, and floodwater on every road," he wrote.

Bharadwaj also questioned the absence of Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma.

“The whole of Delhi is submerged But Delhi's PWD minister @p_sahibsingh is 'missing' (sic),” AAP posted on its official X handle with a ‘Missing Parvesh Verma’ poster.

L-G Saxena praises Delhi govt

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena shared videos of key drains with a free flow. He praised the Delhi government for making efforts to mitigate waterlogging and said the "morass" had set in due to more than a decade of neglect.

"It is encouraging to see the Irrigation & Flood Control Department striving to make our drains flow and mitigate waterlogging amidst heavy unexpected rains. The consistent efforts of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta vide field visits and monitoring have started showing results. The morass set in due to the neglect of more than a decade will take considerable time getting fully sorted, but the new government's efforts at governance are indeed gratifying," he said on X, along with videos of key drains.

(With agency inputs)