Deluge and storm in Delhi lead to the tragic loss of a mother and her three children
Delhi and its vicinity faced a wild weather storm on Friday, with heavy rain and thunderstorms, offering some reprieve from the scorching heatwave but causing commotion such as waterlogging and traffic entanglements.
Tragedy struck in Delhi's Najafgarh area when a 26-year-old woman and her three minor children lost their lives, while her husband endured injuries, as their house crumbled due to the thunderstorm. According to reports, the structure collapsed due to a tree snapping during the storm's fury, which fell and toppled the house[1][4]. The incident took place around 5:25 in the morning at Kharkari Nagar village, Jafarpur Kalan[2][4]. Her husband miraculously survived with just minor injuries[1][4].
Read: Delhi sees pandemonium as rain, thunderstorms cause waterlogging, traffic jams
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but it was too late for the family. The bodies were transferred to a local mortuary for autopsy, and further investigations are underway[3][4].
Deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, and the story will be updated once a statement is received.
An aggressive thunderstorm battered the capital in the early hours of Friday, leading to cities-wide waterlogging and traffic congestions. Flights too were affected in the early hours, with at least three flight diversions and over 100 delays at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport according to sources[1].
Also read: Delhi rain, thunderstorms disrupt flights; airport issues advisory for passengers
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, warning of heavy rainfall and urging residents to avoid outdoor activities[1]. The destructive weather wreaked havoc across the city, with uprooted trees blocking roads, infrastructure damage, and flash flooding[1][5]. However, the search results do not explicitly mention any pre-existing vulnerabilities in the collapsed house, with the direct cause being the tree's impact during the extreme weather[1][3][4].
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of Delhi's continuous monsoon-related infrastructure issues, particularly in low-lying areas prone to flooding[1][5].
- The international news outlets reported a chaotic scene in India's capital, Delhi, as a result of the severe thunderstorms that hit the city.
- The deluge of rain and thunderstorms brought much-needed respite from the heatwave but led to waterlogging and traffic congestions.
- The incident in Delhi's Najafgarh area was particularly tragic, with a woman and her three children losing their lives due to a collapsing house, which was caused by a falling tree during the storm.
- The postmortem of the victims and further investigations are currently underway, with the Delhi Police yet to issue a statement on the matter.
- The weather forecasting agency, IMD, had issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, cautioning residents about the heavy rainfall and urging them to avoid outdoor activities.
- The latest incident underscores Delhi's persistent monsoon-related infrastructure problems, particularly in low-lying areas prone to flooding, putting children and other residents at risk during severe weather events.
