Heavy rain brings capital to standstill (Second lead)

NEW DELHI - The rain gods were surely in a kind mood Wednesday evening with the capital witnessing heavy rains but the city traffic came to a jarring halt due to waterlogging.

According to the traffic police, traffic was crawling in most parts of the city due to waterlogging.

Heavy traffic jams were reported from Karol Bagh, Wazirabad, Azad Market, Kailash colony to ITO, Rajghat to Laxmi Nagar, Ashoka Hotel to Dwarka, Moolchand, Shankar Road, Mathura Road, Lakshmi Nagar, Connaught Place, Dhaula Kuan, South Extension, Patel Nagar, Okhla, Sarai Kale Khan and Darya Ganj.

“The city is in a complete standstill as per the reports,” a traffic helpline official told IANS.

Akash Mani, a student, was stuck in a jam for 45 minutes while going from ISBT to Rajghat.

“There was no respite as half of the road was blocked due to digging near Salim Garg Fort,” Mani told IANS.

According to an official, the control room of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had so far received four-five complaints of waterlogging.

According to a traffic police officer, as the whole city has been dug up, it was a nightmare for many pedestrians who had to wade through knee-deep water at places.

“There was major traffic jam. The traffic later moved but very slowly,” said Ruchi Arora, an advertising professional who was on her way back from Gurgaon NH8 via Vasant Vihar to Hauz Khas.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted more rains for Wednesday night.

According to the officials, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 36.6 degrees Celsius, three notches above average, and 26.3 degrees, respectively.

The maximum humidity was on the higher side at 89 percent and minimum at 59 percent. The humidity levels are expected to remain high in the coming days.