AAP government creates 24-hour control room, helpline numbers after heavy rain hit Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government on Friday established a 24-hour joint control room after heavy rain battered the city early in the morning. The government also released a phone number 1800110093 and WhatsApp number 8130188222 for people to report waterlogging issues.

Delhi Ministers Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, and Imran Hussain chaired a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. Senior officials from key departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and Delhi Jal Board, attended the meeting.

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After the emergency meeting, Delhi PWD Minister Atishi said that according to the meteorological observatory at Safdarjung, Delhi recorded 228.1 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the highest in a single day since 1936. This accounts for about 25 per cent of the entire monsoon season’s expected rainfall.

The heavy rainfall has caused significant waterlogging in many parts of Delhi, with drains overflowing for several hours. As a precaution, power cuts were implemented in some areas to prevent electric hazards due to waterlogging.

Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced the creation of a 24-hour control room at the PWD headquarters. Three senior officers will work in 8-hour shifts to monitor waterlogging continuously. Officials from major water-related departments, such as PWD, MCD, and the irrigation and flood department, will also be present to ensure proper coordination.

All departments have been instructed to check and repair pumps by 10 pm. Mobile pumps have been installed in many areas by MCD and PWD. The NDMC and the Cantonment Board departments have been asked to review the pumps’ capacity and functionality.

Quick response teams will be formed in all departments to address waterlogging complaints promptly. Traffic police, MLAs, and councilors have been asked to provide lists of potential waterlogging spots in their areas, which the Chief Secretary will review and address.

The Urban Development Minister highlighted that many areas lack proper drainage systems, leading to rainwater flowing into sewers, which can cause blockages.

The Delhi Jal Board has been instructed to deploy recycler machines in each of the 11 zones to address large-scale blockages. Contract labor will also be arranged for sewer duty.

“Many cases are related to two or three departments, like irrigation and flood Department, NDMC, PWD and DDA. Instructions have been given to prepare a list of such cases, and they will be monitored continuously so that there is no problem of waterlogging,” Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

“Apart from this, the Delhi Jal Board has been asked to arrange contract labour for sewer duty. In case of waterlogging anywhere, Delhiites can give information by calling the PWD control room on 1800110093. Apart from this, information can also be given by sending a message on WhatsApp number 8130188222,” he added.