New Delhi: Marking the onset of monsoon, heavy showers lashed the capital on Friday evening much to the relief of Delhiites but led to traffic chaos and hit air services.
The rains, which started around 6 pm, exposed the claims of the city government and civic bodies on desilting the drains as waterlogging was reported from across the city, though officials sought to put the blame on each other.
"Yes, we can say these are monsoon rains but officially we will announce it tomorrow as we have to observe the rainfall pattern for a period of 24 hours which ends at 8:30 am tomorrow. Rains are widespread and will continue for another two-three days," Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General of Indian Meteorological Department, told PTI.
The rain guages at Safdurjung weather station measured 15.6 mm while Palam station registered 29.4 mm of showers till 8:30 pm.
The rains also affected air services in the capital with five flights being diverted to Jaipur.
The monsoon onset in the capital has been delayed by eight days this year. The normal monsoon onset date for Delhi is June 29.
"Finally the rains are here and we are spared of this torturous weather," said Anamika Verma, a college student.
Medium to heavy rains lashed most parts of the city in, leading to traffic snarls at major traffic intersections and water logging. Thousands of people getting back home from office were stranded on roads across the capital.
There were rains in some parts of the capital early in the morning as well. While the maximum temperature was recorded at 38.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, the minimum settled at 29.1 degrees.
Sudden rains led to waterlogging and traffic snarls in areas like Laxmi Nagar, Parliament Street, ITO, R K Puram, Zakhira, Kishan Ganj, Nizammudin, Tagore Garden, Akshardham, Ashram, Sarai Kaalekhan, Kashmere Gate, Shanti Van, Nigam Bodh Ghat, PHQ, Baraf Khana Chowk, Roop Nagar and Azad Market.
PTI
