A tragic incident unfolded in Faridabad on Friday as a bank manager and a cashier lost their lives after their SUV was submerged in a flooded underpass. The National Capital Region (NCR), including Delhi, has been experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to waterlogging and chaos on the roads.
Punyashreya Sharma, the manager of HDFC Bank’s branch in Gurugram’s Sector 31, and Viraj Dwivedi, a cashier at the same branch, were returning home to Faridabad when the tragedy struck. According to police reports, they were traveling in a Mahindra XUV700 when they encountered the flooded Old Faridabad railway underpass. Despite seeing the water, they misjudged its depth.
As their SUV began to submerge, Sharma and Dwivedi attempted to escape the vehicle and swim to safety. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, and both drowned.
Responding to reports of a vehicle being stuck in the underpass, a police team rushed to the scene. Sharma’s body was recovered from the vehicle, while Dwivedi’s body was found after a prolonged search that ended at 4 am on Saturday.
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Torrential Rains Wreak Havoc in NCR
The tragic incident is part of a larger crisis caused by continuous rainfall in Delhi and the NCR. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall on both Thursday and Friday. The rains were attributed to a depression over southwest Uttar Pradesh, resulting in widespread disruption.
On Friday, traffic jams and severe waterlogging were reported in multiple parts of NCR, including in Delhi, Gurugram and Faridabad. In Gurugram, major junctions like Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, and IFFCO Chowk were severely affected. Despite efforts to manage the situation, flooding and water accumulation led to a near standstill in many areas.
Record-Breaking Rainfall
Delhi and its surrounding areas have seen an unprecedented amount of rainfall this month. IMD data reveals that Delhi has received over 1,000 mm of rain, marking the highest rainfall recorded since 2021 and the second highest in at least a decade.
The downpours continued into Saturday, prompting the IMD to issue a yellow alert for moderate rainfall. With forecasts indicating more rain in the coming days, residents of NCR remain on high alert.
Public Safety Concerns
This tragic event highlights the dangers of flooded roadways and underpasses, particularly during extreme weather conditions. Authorities are urging the public to avoid driving through waterlogged areas, emphasizing the need for caution and awareness during the ongoing heavy rains.
