Delhi storm: 15 injured in chaos of sudden rain, cars damaged; LG promises action

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The fierce thunderstorm and strong winds on Monday caused several trees to uproot in the national capital. This damaged vehicles and injured several people in different parts of the city. Delhi's government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Nayak Hospital (LNJP) reported that 15 injured people had been brought to the hospital on Monday after the fierce thunderstorm. 

"There were three-four people who suffered fractures due to trees falling on their cars or scooters. Some suffered injuries as the (windshield or window) glass of their vehicles shattered after trees fell on them, while some sustained head injuries. None of them is in a critical condition," said LNJP Hospital's medical director Dr Suresh Kumar.

Meanwhile, the Centre-run RML Hospital in Lutyens' Delhi, which was one of the worst-affected areas, reported nearly 25 such cases. "Around 20-25 patients visited the hospital between 8 pm and 11 pm on Monday. None of them suffered serious injuries," said RML Hospital's medical director Dr B L Sherwal.

Delhi LG promised a thorough review of the reasons for the uprooting trees  

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said the government has taken a serious note of uprooting of trees following a storm and assured that the issue will be addressed at the earliest. A statement issued by Raj Niwas said Saxena has asked for a thorough review and rectification of the causes so that such incidents are not repeated.

"Deeply distressed and concerned by the destruction, disruption and disturbance caused by uprooting of trees due to the 'severe storm' yesterday, the Lt Governor, Shri VK Saxena has asked for thorough review and rectification of the causes so that such incidents are not repeated," a tweet from LG office said.

Power cuts and traffic congestion in several parts of Delhi

The power supply was affected in areas like Dwarka, Defence Colony, Minto Road, Vijay Nagar, Mayur Vihar, Jangpura, Civil Lines, Palam Vihar, Mangolpuri, Karawal Nagar, Nand Nagri, Rohini, Pitampura, Burari, Bawana, Najafgarh, Nangloi among other places. 

Areas close to Ferozeshah Road, Tolstoy Marg, Copernicus Road, KG Marg, and Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane had trails of motors stranded after the heavy downpour. 

Several trees were uprooted in the thunderstorm 

According to the data provided by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, at least 215 trees were either uprooted or damaged across the city, excluding the Lutyens' Delhi area where 77 trees had fallen due to the thunderstorm on Monday evening. The areas under MCD where trees were uprooted included Rohini, Ajmeri Gate, Dariyaganj, Sunder Nagar, Pahadganj, Narayana, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New friends Colony, Jangpura, Bawana Depot, Azadpur, Civil Lines, Vikaspuri, Saket, Sundar Nagri, Anand Vihar, Mayur Vihar, Lajpat Nagar, ITO, and Malviya Nagar, among others.

Central dome of Jama Masjid damaged 

Meanwhile, the middle dome finial of the Jama Masjid also suffered major damage in the heavy downpour and thunderstorm, causing injuries to two-three persons. The canopy at Vijay Chowk was also toppled in the rain.

The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, also wrote to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to bring down the damaged portion.

"Over a week ago, the southern minaret of the grand mosque was damaged by a dust storm and rain, and a big block of stone had fallen off it. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident. But, due to this, other stones around it have also become loose," the Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari said.

(With PTI Inputs)

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