Rains lash Delhi, more expected (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - Sporadic yet heavy rains lashed Delhi Sunday, bringing down the maximum temperature 11 notches below average to 23.3 degrees Celsius. The met office has predicted more showers Monday.

“Skies will be cloudy with rains and thundershowers in some pockets of the city. One or two spells may be heavy in some areas,” an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The capital received 56.2 mm of rainfall Sunday which caused flooding in the low-lying areas of the city and waterlogging in many parts, including some major roads.

According to the Delhi Traffic Police, water accumulated on many roads, including Mathura Road, Ashram and Moolchand intersection, in Moti Bagh and Shanti Niketan in south Delhi, Mother Teresa Crescent in central Delhi, Kashmere Gate and the Mori Gate roundabout in north Delhi.

However, Sunday being a holiday there were no traffic snarls reported in the city, a traffic police official said.

However, the waterlogging caused by the rains resulted in smaller cars getting stuck in pools of water in some localities.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported 60 waterlogging complaints, 12 cases of fallen trees and two of buildings being damaged from Saturday morning to Sunday evening.

The humidity levels wavered between 100 percent and 76 percent.

The maximum and minimum temperatures Monday are expected to hover round 26 and 22 degrees.

The city has so far received 949.2 mm of rainfall this monsoon season, 62 percent above average.