The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration over widespread waterlogging in Delhi following an overnight thunderstorm, accusing the so-called “four-engine” government of complete failure.
The criticism came after heavy rains battered the national capital on Saturday night, disrupting flight operations, uprooting trees and electric poles and leaving several key roads inundated. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded wind speeds of up to 82 km/h and 81.2 mm of rainfall in just six hours between 11:30 PM Saturday and 5:30 AM Sunday.
AAP leaders, including Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, Leader of Opposition Atishi, former Mayor Shelly Oberoi and party members Adil Ahmad Khan and Gulab Singh Yadav, shared multiple videos on X, showing waterlogged streets across the city.
In one post showing a flooded ITO junction, the party wrote, “When Delhiites woke up this morning, they found the city submerged. This is the result of the so-called four-engine government. A little rain and the roads are flooded.”
Another video showed a car and a bus submerged at an underpass in Delhi Cantonment. The AAP mocked BJP leaders, saying, “Now Chief Minister Rekha Gupta can visit the spot to take credit for this work.”
The party also pointed to waterlogging at Minto Bridge, a known flooding hotspot, stating, “Just a few days ago, CM Rekha Gupta and Minister Parvesh Verma came here for a photoshoot. They did nothing beyond clicking pictures.”
Videos from areas like Dhaula Kuan and Chanakyapuri were also circulated by AAP to underline the scale of the flooding. “Even embassies were not spared,” the party said.
Saurabh Bharadwaj posted photos of an inundated Timarpur Road, stating, “This is BJP’s four-engine rule: Prime Minister—BJP, LG—BJP, CM—BJP, MCD Mayor—BJP, NDMC—BJP, and officials—all under BJP control. Yet, this is the state of Delhi.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena shared videos of key drains functioning smoothly, suggesting that preventive measures were in place.
Bharadwaj also questioned the absence of PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, asking, “Where is he when the city is drowning?”
Sharing the photo of a recent meeting convened by the chief minister, he said, “Delhi is completely waterlogged. Yet minister Parvesh Verma, who boasted of suspending 335 officials recently, is missing … Even in the cabinet photo four days ago, the minister was absent. For days now, Delhi has been reeling under water crisis … CM Rekha Gupta must explain where her PWD and Water Minister Parvesh Verma is,” he said in a post in Hindi.
Sharing a video posted by Delhi Traffic Police on X, Saurabh Bharadwaj wrote, “Mundka is the parental village of PWD Minister Parvesh Verma. Can BJP tell us where he is?” Former Delhi chief minister Atishi also posted series of videos after the overnight rain.
“This is what happens to Delhi after just one spell of rain under the BJP’s four-engine government,” she said.
Sharing visuals from the Minto Bridge, she said, “A car submerged after light rain. It is crystal clear — this four-engine government has failed.” Atishi also shared a video from ITO, noting that the waterlogging happened right outside the PWD headquarters. “Where is PWD Minister Parvesh Verma hiding?” she asked.
Meanwhile, L-G Saxena praised the Delhi government for making efforts to mitigate waterlogging and said the “morass” had set in due to more than a decade of neglect.
“It is encouraging to see the Irrigation & Flood Control Department striving to make our drains flow and mitigate waterlogging amidst heavy unexpected rains. The consistent efforts of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta vide field visits and monitoring have started showing results. The morass set in due to the neglect of more than a decade will take considerable time getting fully sorted, but the new government’s efforts at governance are indeed gratifying,” he said on X, along with videos of key drains.
(With inputs from PTI)