India, Aug. 8 -- For many Delhi residents, Friday's rain was less a weather event than a reminder of a problem that returns with every monsoon - roads disappearing under stagnant water, overflowing garbage, damaged streets and a civic system struggling to keep pace. By Saturday, the rain had not entirely loosened its grip on the capital, with several parts of Delhi-NCR continuing to report waterlogging and disruption to daily life. The national capital received moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday, August 7, resulting in extensive waterlogging across several areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain over the weekend, with light to very light rainfall likely to continue till August 13. Also Read - Narela: Merc-car crash kills woman pedestrian In Shaheen Bagh, particularly around 40 Futa Road, stretches of the road were submerged, leaving vehicles stranded and some falling into open ditches. Garbage dumped along the roadside was washed into the streets, making it difficult to distinguish the road from the accumulated water. "For us, even reaching school safely has become a struggle," said Hamza, a Class X student from the area. "We are fighting for basic things such as clean roads. We have been on leave because of the rain, but how long are we expected to live like this in the capital?" For local traders, the waterlogging has translated into lost business. A restaurant owner in Shaheen Bagh said customers had stopped visiting despite shops remaining open. Also Read - CM gives jobs boost to 187 MCD employees "The market is known for its food, but who will come when the roads are under water?" he said, adding that poor drainage, damaged roads and inadequate infrastructure had made the monsoon particularly difficult for businesses. The crisis was equally visible in Zakir Nagar, where the MCD Pratibha Vidyalaya was reported to be waterlogged. Parents said children had to be carried through the water, while students described the situation as something they had witnessed repeatedly during previous monsoons. "If the civic body cannot protect its own schools from waterlogging, how will it protect Delhi?" a parent asked. Also Read - Delhi Police felicitates 16 innovators for AI-based policing solutions In Gaffar Manzil, residents said a major connecting road towards Haji Colony and lanes 13, 14 and 15 had remained damaged for four days. Despite complaints, residents alleged that repair work had not begun before the rain worsened the situation. Further south, Sangam Vihar's A-163 ward resembled a large pool on Friday. Schoolchildren struggled through the water, vehicles stalled as water reached their engines and roadside shops were surrounded by stagnant water. Residents voiced a familiar frustration: every monsoon brings the same disruption, while complaints often yield little more than temporary attention.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.