New Delhi, 24 August (H.S.):

The weather in Delhi-NCR has undergone a noticeable change on the final Monday of the holy month of Shravan. Moderate rainfall in parts of the region during the mornings over the past two days has brought relief from the sultry heat, but has also added to the woes of residents.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall in the region on Tuesday as well. Persistent cloud cover and morning showers have made the weather pleasant, but several low-lying areas of the national capital and neighbouring regions have been inundated.

Waterlogging on roads has created difficulties for both pedestrians and motorists. The impact has been particularly severe on traffic movement across Delhi-NCR. As soon as rainfall begins, traffic slows to a crawl at major intersections and along busy stretches.

Employees who normally take one to two hours to commute to their workplaces are having to endure journeys lasting three to four hours due to waterlogging and traffic congestion. During this period, commuters also face a severe shortage of public transport services.

Finding cabs and auto-rickshaws becomes particularly difficult during heavy rain. At the same time, surge pricing or dynamic pricing by app-based cab aggregators can result in passengers being charged fares that are as much as double the usual rates.

Waterlogging and traffic congestion during the monsoon and the month of Shravan are not new problems in Delhi-NCR. Even relatively light rainfall frequently exposes deficiencies in the city’s drainage infrastructure, leaving several areas waterlogged and disrupting normal life.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar