Delhi Rains: Pragati Maidan tunnel shut due to waterlogging after June 28 rainfall reopened for public

Delhi Rains: The Pragati Maidan tunnel that had been closed due to waterlogging following last week’s heavy rain in Delhi reopened for the public on Monday, officials said. Public works department officials mentioned that traffic movement in the tunnel resumed on Monday after it was cleaned. The tunnel had been closed since June 28.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the Safdarjung observatory — the city’s primary weather station — recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall, followed by 192.8 mm at Lodhi Road, 150.4 mm at Ridge, 106.6 mm at Palam, and 66.3 mm at Ayanagar on June 28. The 228.1 mm rainfall recorded in the 24 hours that ended at 8:30 am on June 28 was more than three times the June rainfall average of 74.1 mm and the highest for the month since 1936.

The heavy rainfall caused severe disruptions across the city, with significant waterlogging in multiple areas. The public works department said it received more than 200 calls from waterlogged areas.

Water was drained out of the Minto Bridge underpass and many other parts of the city after hours of effort. Many areas faced traffic snarls and delays due to submerged roads, impacting daily commutes and causing extensive damage to infrastructure. Emergency services were pressed into action to mitigate the impact and restore normalcy.

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Meanwhile, the severe weather also led to multiple casualties. At least 11 people were reported dead due to various rain-related incidents across Delhi over two days.