Delhi schools closed today after heavy rains, waterlogging at many places; IMD issues orange alert

Delhi schools are closed today after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in the national capital. Heavy precipitation yesterday evening, which continued until late at night, led to severe waterlogging in many places across the city.

A 22-year-old woman identified as Tanuja and her 3-tear-old child, Priyansh, reportedly drowned after falling into a waterlogged drain in the Ghazipur area of East Delhi. 

The police said they received a call on Wednesday evening at about 8:12 pm regarding a woman and a child drowning in a drain. The drain was about 15 feet in depth and 6 feet in width, police said.

The duo “were going to the weekly Budh Bazaar held in the Ghazipur Police Station area, East Delhi, and fell into the waterlogged semi-constructed drain and drowned,” ANI quoted Delhi police as saying. 

Adding to the woes of Delhi residents, a house in Sabzi Mandi collapsed following a ‘cloudburst,’ and traffic congestion was also reported in many places across the national capital.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi, in a post on X last night, said, “In light of very heavy rainfall today evening and forecast of heavy rainfall tomorrow, all schools - government and private - will remain closed tomorrow, 1st August.”

Directorate of Education issued a notice dated July 31 that said, “In light of the very heavy rainfall in the evening of 31st July, 2024 & subsequent waterlogging in many parts of Delhi and forecast of heavy rainfall for 1st August, 2024, all Govt., Govt. Aided and Recognised Unaided Private Schools of Delhi will remain closed on 1st August, 2024 (Thursday).”

The Delhi government further urged “all the Heads of Schools of Delhi” to disseminate this information to teaching and non-teaching staff, students and parents.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, in a post on X, said that all schools under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will remain closed on August 1 in view of the forecast of adverse weather conditions. 

The post stated, “All MCD schools will remain closed tomorrow, August 1, 2024, in view of incessant rainfall in the National Capital and the forecast of adverse weather conditions.”

ANI reported, citing airport sources, that on Wednesday, Delhi airport reported 10 flight diversions between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm.