Vehicles passing through waterlogging during a heavy spell of monsoon rain in New Delhi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Public Works Department (PWD) on Saturday (August 29, 2026) carried out intensive inspections of 139 waterlogging locations across Delhi, following directions from Lieutenant Governor T. S. Sandhu to identify immediate measures to tackle recurring waterlogging during the remaining monsoon.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the capital’s rainy season began on July 2 this year and usually ends around September 25.The 139 locations include 113 waterlogging spots identified by Delhi traffic police during rainfall up to August 20, plus 26 more identified after the August 24 rains.The inspections were carried out by senior PWD officials and engineers across different stretches of the capital. The exercise followed a meeting chaired by the L-G on August 25 to review the waterlogging situation after heavy rainfall led to inundation at several locations.The PWD had issued orders for its officials to inspect all identified waterlogging locations falling under its jurisdiction and assess whether additional short-term measures could be implemented using existing infrastructure and available resources.Senior PWD officials and engineers carried out field inspections across critical stretches, with the principal secretary covering the Mehrauli–Badarpur Road and the special secretary inspecting MG Road, Old Delhi–Gurugram Road, and Mahipalpur Bypass Road. The engineer-in-chief focused on North Zone spots including Nangloi–Najafgarh Road, Jahangirpuri Metro Station, Model Town, and Lala Jagat Narain Marg, while chief engineers checked chronic areas such as New Rohtak Road, 100 Feet Road in Burari, Balbir Singh Sidhu Marg, Prembari Underpass, Palla, Dabri Nala Road, Rao Tula Ram Marg, and Najafgarh–Kapashera Road.The department has directed chief engineers and superintending engineers to submit location-wise observations and specific recommendations for additional short-term and long-term measures to the principal secretary, PWD, by August 31.Orders were also issued to provide jackets and raincoats bearing the department’s logo to pump-house operators, pump operators and assistant and junior engineers. According to the department, the measure is intended to ensure accountability and enable responsibility to be fixed in case of any laxity in the field. Published - August 30, 2026 04:00 am IST
