The state of Haryana has been reeling under heavy rainfall for the past twenty-four hours, causing widespread disruption across multiple districts. In a tragic incident reported in Gohana, Sonipat district, a dilapidated house roof collapsed in village Mahmoodpur during the downpour. Two women who were sleeping inside the structure at the time were trapped under the debris. The victims, identified as 55-year-old Sunil and 56-year-old Bimla, who were sisters-in-law, were rushed to a medical facility in Khanpur by their family, but attending doctors declared them dead upon arrival.
Waterlogging and Traffic Chaos in Gurugram
Gurugram has witnessed significant turmoil as intense rainfall led to severe waterlogging and gridlock on major roads. Specifically, in the Narsinghpur area, a section of the road caved in, causing massive delays for commuters who reported that a ten-minute journey was taking between 30 to 35 minutes to traverse. While municipal authorities and traffic police teams have attempted to stabilize the road collapse with debris, vehicular speed remains severely restricted. Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Gurugram recorded 83 mm of rainfall. Given the prevailing road conditions and traffic congestion, the Gurugram Police issued an appeal via social media, urging corporate offices and private establishments to provide a work-from-home facility to their employees for the next few days. The goal is to reduce unnecessary vehicular movement, allowing traffic management teams to maintain flow and ensure that emergency services remain unobstructed. This follows a day on Tuesday when the city received 71 mm of rain, leading to a highway subsidence on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway.
Agricultural Impact and Official Responses
The rainfall has produced varied reactions across different districts. In Karnal, farmers expressed satisfaction as the heavy showers are expected to benefit the paddy crop significantly. Locals like Amar Singh and Rakesh Mittal noted that the rain has provided a much-needed respite from the intense heat and is advantageous for seasonal crops. Conversely, the weather has also highlighted gaps in urban infrastructure, as areas like Ambedkar Chowk, Minar Road, and Sector 13 experienced severe waterlogging. Ward representative Veer Vikram criticized the municipal body, stating that the drainage and sewage systems were not cleaned on time, as the tenders for these works were issued with significant delays. Meanwhile, in Sonipat, MLA Nikhil Madan has held meetings with officials, warning them that they would face strict departmental action if they fail to address waterlogging issues in their respective jurisdictions.
Nuh district also faced heavy waterlogging, particularly in Taoru town and Ward number 10, where streets and public spaces were flooded, causing hardship for residents. Traffic on Pataudi Road was severely affected, with many two-wheelers getting stuck in the water. The administrative authorities are also concerned about the arrangements for the upcoming visit of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to village Jhamuwas in the Taoru sub-division, scheduled for 12 July. Dr. Madan Lal Khichar, a meteorologist at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar, explained that the monsoon has been progressing slowly, resulting in uneven rainfall across Haryana. Currently, the monsoon is active in northern and southern Haryana and is expected to cover the western parts within the next three days. By 10-11 July, the entire state is expected to experience widespread rainfall. The current temperature in the state ranges between 35 to 39 degrees Celsius for the maximum and 24 to 27 degrees Celsius for the minimum, with a projected drop of 2 to 3 degrees. Farmers are advised to continue paddy transplantation in areas with irrigation access and delay pearl millet sowing until after 11 July to ensure optimal soil moisture.
