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12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Basti and Durbar': This fiction anthology paints a comprehensive picture of Delhi and its people
Edited by Rakhshanda Jalil, 'an unapologetic Delhiite', Basti & Durbar: Delhi-New Delhi is a collection of 32 stories about the city. Through stories from five different languages – those written originally in English as well as those translated into English from Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Malayalam – and featuring a generous number of excerpts from novels, Basti & Durbar is an anthology that gives its readers a fairly comprehensive picture of the city and its inhabitants, capturing the spirit of Delhi/New Delhi through the ages. Jalil has included voices from different eras in the anthology that help the reader navigate through Delhi as it was during certain points in history, and also be a witness to those gradual waves of change that have turned the city into its present avatar. In fact, in one of the latter tales, readers even get a glimpse of Delhi as it might be in the future. In and out of Delhi Basti & Durbar opens with The City that Was, an excerpt from the Hindi novel Basharat Manzil, which is set in the late 19th and early 20th century and presents Delhi through the eyes of a character who has left it behind. The story describes the glory of a city which now remains only in the memories of its central character and his (ultimately) futile efforts to recreate his beloved city by creating a similar atmosphere in Bhopal – from chess to hookah to pigeon rearing. But then, migration is a recurring theme in many stories in the anthology. This is particularly true of migration to Delhi, be it by virtue of need, choice or chance; and the experiences of these outsiders, these immigrants who are an integral part of Delhi, are at the core of several stories. For instance, 'Amritsar to Kingsway Camp' (an excerpt from Priya Hajela's novel Ladies' Tailor) and 'The Parade' by MS Sarna depict and document the experiences of individuals who have arrived from across the border in the aftermath of the tragedy of partition. While on the surface, the situation of characters in these two stories might seem very different, in truth, they are all part of the same exodus and have faced similar traumas as thousands of their contemporaries. Then there are stories that present before their readers the plight and the condition of the economic migrants who have been driven to the city in search of better opportunities, and the way the city has the potential to swallow one whole within the span of a few minutes. This is exemplified in Bhisham Sahni's story 'Gango's Child', which shows the difficult and miserable lives of those living in those locales of the city that fall in the category of 'basti', while 'Winter of Fear' captures the atmosphere of fear that pervaded the city during the emergency years in harrowing detail, turning the city into a monster that unleashes its fury on its arbitrarily chosen victims. Echoes of the basti's narrative are also found in the extract from Mohan Rakesh's novel Andhere Band Kamre (translated as Ibadat Ali's Haveli in Qassabpura), which gives a glimpse of Ibadat Ali's haveli nine years apart with the stagnation as well as the change in the fortunes of its inhabitants. Delhi comes alive in these stories through the description of its narrow lanes, crumbling havelis, dim corners and dingy dwellings. At the same time, they also make the reader realise that the fortune of the city, including its rise and its fall, is intricately related to the making and breaking of the fortunes of its people. And this is true not just of the stories that describe the dirt and the squalor of the city, but also the Delhi of the affluent hotels, clubs and the upper- and middle-class lives. Stories set in this affluent part of Delhi make the reader a witness to things as they seem from the Durbar's corner. Stories like 'Priya', 'Diamonds are Forever', and 'Trap' are set amongst the shiny buildings, gymkhana clubs and five-star hotels and give the readers a sneak-peek into this world, while stories like 'Yes, Sir' and the tongue in cheek 'Cheng-Chui' are set in the world of the bureaucracy, the sarkari, without which no portrait of Delhi can ever be complete. A story like 'The Secret Garden' finds itself somewhere in between – it shows a completely different side of the city, one that comes alive after dark, and in a certain way becomes a great leveller as it crumbles the boundaries of the basti and the durbar, however temporarily, forcing them to merge even as power plays its role here as well. Delhi is everyone's The extract from Usha Priyamvada's Fifty-Five Pillars, Red Walls gives one the idea of the city in a different way. It doesn't necessarily take one on a Dilli ki Sair but presents another, subtler but equally powerful facet of the city – a Delhi where the life and the decisions of a grown woman are circumscribed by the red walls of the hostel where she lives. Delhi, in a story like this, becomes a symbolic prison which does its best to keep one from living the life one desires. Stories like Fifty-Five Pillars and Keki N Daruwalla's 'Daughter' feel more invested in providing readers a snapshot not of the roads of Delhi, but its psyche. A story like 'Cake', on the other hand, merges the physical and the psychological aspects of the city beautifully in its descriptions of the city as well the impact it has on people in describing how the metropolis works on you, making you less sensitive and more thick skinned the longer you spend time here, looking at and dreaming of the affluence that seems ever elusive. Another aspect which makes this anthology appealing is that readers get to read these stories narrated from multiple points of view. The narrators here include, but are not limited to, a bored wife in the gymkhana club looking to gossip; a man displaced from his hometown, struggling to cross the road; a writer-bureaucrat; a tangawallah; a student from Shillong; a man who has visions of the past and future; and a woman who is the centre of attention for having 'travelled: to Delhi. All these narrators present the many sides of the same city, a city with personalities as varied as its inhabitants, a city that gives a different welcome to different people. Power is closely associated with the very idea of Delhi and power, the lack of it, and the tussle over it become key themes in many stories in both overt and covert ways. Basti & Durbar is wide in scope and covers a large span of time, giving glimpses of Dilli and Delhi both. These are the stories of the dilliwallahs as well as the Delhiites, and then everyone else in between and on the margins. There are stories of those who have left Delhi and miss it, those who love it, those who have been forced to it, those who are trying hard to survive it, and those who are on the verge of giving up. Delhi comes alive in the pages of the anthology not (just) through the descriptions or name-dropping places that are quintessentially Delhi, but through the tiny – sometimes minuscule – day-to-day actions and interactions as well as those life-altering moments that happen in the city and take one completely by surprise. At the same time, these stories allow their reader a peek into the various layers that have gone into the making of both Delhi and New Delhi. These might be layers of time that have deposited one over the other with the progression of history, or these might be cohabitating layers – both squalid and splendid. Basti & Durbar makes space for a large number of authors, including contemporary authors and genres of writing such as speculative fiction. As is bound to happen in any anthology, one might find certain stories more appealing than others. Overall, though, Basti & Durbar is a collectible. It's an admirable anthology of stories of and about the city which takes its readers on a tour of the city's nooks and corners both hidden and exposed, shining and dirty, in an unapologetic fashion.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
International Olympic Day 2025: Let's move, Delhi! Play at these five spots in NCR without worrying about your budget
Swim or Smash @ Siri Fort Sports Complex Check out the sports complexes across Delhi-NCR where anyone can turn up to play various sports without burning a hole in your pocket. (Photos: Instagram and Facebook (For representational purposes only)) Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi. A Delhiite's favourite, Siri Fort Sports Complex offers everything from swimming and squash to table tennis and badminton. Non-members can access many of the facilities at highly subsidised rates. 'Swimming sessions here cost just ₹ 190 an hour, which is rare in Delhi,' says Shreya Bindra, a marketing professional. Siri Fort Sports Complex, Siri Fort, New Delhi Tuesday to Sunday; 6am–9pm Volleyball, Football & Basketball @Yamuna Sports Complex Yamuna Sports Complex, East Delhi. Looking for something more structured? For a one-time entry fee of just Rs. 100/day, you can access volleyball, basketball, and football courts at Yamuna Sports Complex. It operates on a first-come-first-serve basis, so plan. 'Weekends get busy. If you want a better shot at getting a court, come on weekday evenings or early mornings,' advises Naveen, who manages the facilities. Yamuna Sports Complex, Surajmal Vihar, East Delhi Tuesday to Sunday; 6am–9pm Badminton and Cricket @ Noida Stadium Noida Stadium. Following a recent revamp, Noida Stadium has become a buzzing hub for casual sports. Its open grounds are perfect for spontaneous games of badminton and cricket — no bookings or payments required. 'We play badminton a few times a week, and booking indoor courts elsewhere is expensive. Here, we just walk in and start playing in the open area,' says Vandit Madan, a first-year student at Delhi University. Noida Stadium, Sector 21A, Noida Monday to Saturday; 9.30am–6.30pm Ball It Out @ Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Gurugram. Gurugram folks, this one's for you. Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex offers free access to basketball and volleyball courts that feel pro-level, minus the cost. 'My brother plays basketball, I play volleyball, free of charge,' says Aman Gupta, a college student. Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 38, Gurugram Monday to Sunday; 4am–9pm Run Like a Pro @ JLN Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi. If running's your jam, head to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for its nine synthetic tracks. A quarterly pass costs just Rs. 400 — a steal for world-class infrastructure. Plus, lockers are available. JLN Stadium, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi Monday to Sunday; 9.30am–6pm Boxer Amit Panghal.(Photo: Amit Panghal/IG) Wrestler Ravi Dahiya.(Photo: Ravi Dahiya/IG) For more, follow HT City Delhi Junction
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
My biggest challenge is to draft policies for an unplanned city, says Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was the inaugural guest at the new series of thoughtful conversations, The Hindu 'Mind', launched and curated by The Hindu. She speaks to Nistula Hebbar on a host of issues facing the national capital and her plans to address them. Edited excerpts: You completed 100 days as CM on May 30. What has been the biggest challenge you faced in this period? Actually, I could not even imagine that the arrangements for the whole of Delhi were so challenging. Staying outside the system, I saw that Delhi was running. But when I stood inside the system, I saw that Delhi was running like a vehicle without wheels, at the mercy of fate with no holistic planning for Delhi and its infrastructure, its needs. I soon realised that the expectations of the people of Delhi, which is the capital of the country, had shrunk to such an extent that a Delhiite today does not want to ask anything big from you. His wishes have been limited to such an extent that all he is asking you is to just get the drain in front of his house fixed. It is as if Delhiites have lost all scope of thinking bigger than that in the last 20-25 years. So that is the challenge that I see – a condition where you have to start from almost zero, that you don't have any count of the population of an unplanned city which is the capital of the country. There is no draft of what you want to do and how will you do it. There is no vision for this. That continues to be the biggest challenge. Nowadays we have seen a lot that there is a lot of bitterness and acrimony in the political culture. Since you took over, have you had any interaction with the two former CMs, Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi? I have not had any interaction with Arvind Kejriwal because I think that the day the results came, he immediately picked up his bag and left for Punjab. Punjab is also where you went for campaigning for the Ludhiana bypoll. I had gone to look for him. I thought I should find him. Did you meet him there? I did not meet him but I did convey via my meetings there that the people of Delhi are calling you [Kejriwal]. Till yesterday you were the son of Delhi and now suddenly you have become the son of Punjab. I conveyed to the people of Punjab the wounds that he has given to Delhi. But I get to meet Atishiji during the Assembly session. I remember that in the first session, those people [Aam Aadmi Party MLAs] made big noise and came with placards that you people [the government] have removed the photographs Bhagat Singhji and Babasaheb Ambedkar from office of the CM. I asked my security to let Atishiji and other AAP MLAs enter my office. I made them sit and gave them tea and said, look bhai, you have the photographs here, I am also there, the room is also the same. Why are you making this noise? I understand that one should continue efforts to talk to the Opposition. The two big campaign issues for the BJP in the Delhi poll were the alleged excise scam and the 'Sheesh Mahal' issue. What is happening there? The Arvind Kejriwal government's excise policy, in which he gave free liquor with one purchase, was unprecedented. And similarly, he built a Sheesh Mahal for himself. The negative reaction in terms of poll results to the Sheesh Mahal was also because it was done by someone who used to sit in Ramlila Maidan and say that I don't want anything, no car, no bungalow, not even any post, and later went on to acquire everything. Both these subjects touch the public and we want to take decisions after a lot of thought. We want to bring a very transparent and people-friendly excise policy and for this we have done a lot of homework to find out comparative policies in other States, a policy in which the standards of society, revenue parameters should be met with complete transparency. We have engaged a team of our officers to go into it, and we will be able to bring a good, transparent and economically viable excise policy for Delhi very soon. As for the Sheesh Mahal, it has become like a white elephant for the government. But I definitely assure the people of Delhi that every penny of taxpayers' money will be fully utilised. Some people feel that it should be made a State guest house, others feel that it should be sold, still others feel it should be a museum. Some people have also suggested that I should stay in it. Will you? No, I had made it clear on the first day itself that I don't want to be in it. We will bring a proposal that it should be useful for the public and the government should generate revenue from it. We speak about developed Delhi but recently we have seen incidents like the fire in a residential complex in Dwarka where to save their lives, some people jumped from the ninth floor because the Fire Department people took a lot of time in arriving. We are in the process of addressing this. We have made a provision in our budget for upgrading of facilities for disaster management, on how to deal with floods, earthquakes, the possibilities of these disasters happening. We started dealing with all these things in just 100 days and have started planning for it. In 2023, the then government in Delhi was totally unprepared for the kind of floods that happened. The barricades of the [Yamuna] barrage could not be opened since they had remained closed for years, and the water could not flow out. Today we know that the rains are about to start, so before that we have completed the meetings on disaster management, flood management and everything else, completed the preparations, de-silting of drains in which in just four months we have removed 20 lakh metric tons of silt. The monsoon is almost upon us. Last year, the city saw massive urban waterlogging. What is your plan to deal with it? Every year, in June, the same photo of a bus stuck under a waterlogged Minto Bridge is published. The Congress government got 15 years, AAP got 11 years… they could not solve the problem created every year at one place. But today I can assure you that Minto Bridge will not be flooded. Not only Minto Bridge, we have identified all the waterlogging points in Delhi. For each of these points we have appointed a nodal officer to suggest solutions and who will be held responsible for any waterlogging there, on the premise that only through accountability and resources can you solve an intractable issue. Today I invite Kejriwalji to come… you ruled for 11 years, I am standing on the record of 100 days. Debate with me. What should have happened in Delhi and what did you do? Looking at your campaign for the Ludhiana bypoll, will you be going to Punjab during the Assembly election in 2027? Yes, 100%. Delhi has been pushed back 50 years by the AAP government in 11 years. It is my social responsibility that no other State of the country falls into the trap of such deceptive people. Lately, the issue of fee hikes by private schools has hit the headlines. You have brought the Delhi school education ordinance. Why not debate it in the Assembly first? Private schools are increasing their fees abnormally every year, but even today, private schools in Delhi are governed by the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and nowhere in that Act is anything written about what schools should do to increase fees. There is just a line that says that you should increase your fees and intimate the Directorate of Education. The government used to go to court and used to fail because there was no law. For the first time after coming to power, we made a framework for it so that the schools can be governed. As for the ordinance route, the problem was that as soon as our government was formed, school admissions had started with some schools increasing fees. We had to react to the fact that children and parents were being harassed. We presented our complete report in court. Even the honourable court scolded the schools that you cannot do this and in the meantime, because no Assembly [session] was not on and we wanted to give immediate relief, we have brought it as an ordinance. An ordinance can survive for six months and in between you will have a session where the House will clear it. What ways beyond legislation are there to address these issues? People have made education a business. Some good people should come who accept it as a social service and deal with it in that manner. There is, however, another way which I understand. We have to make our government schools so good that people prefer sending their children there rather than face hassles in a private school. Leave aside other things. Tell me which leader's children study in a government school? They do not study because they know that we have not given the structure to the schools where their own children can study. So it is the responsibility of the government to make government schools better so that private schools will automatically come down. Interestingly, when we talk education at the university level and even at the postgraduation level, where do people want to go? They want to go to a government institution. We want that same preference for school education. The state of the Yamuna river has become a chronic issue for the city. What are your plans with regard to this forever problem? Look, this is the misfortune of the city. What we are now calling a problem was once the lifeline of Delhi, its claim to beauty. Slowly, when people started coming to Delhi in a non-planned manner, and governments never worried about what kind of infrastructure should be there. People kept settling down and sewers, drains, gutters kept falling directly into Yamunaji. And as this pile-up continued for years, the condition of Yamunaji became like that of a drain. There was much talk by previous governments that we will clean the Yamuna, but without addressing the things that have made the river dirty. Today, about 200 drains of Delhi fall into the Yamuna. Every drain in the entire city has its own shape and at some places, the drain is bigger than the river. The one which is called Sahibi river is Najafgarh drain, which falls completely into the Yamuna. We have made a detailed plan. For the first time, the government is seriously surveying through drones drains that are falling into the Yamuna and the amount of silt in it. For the first time, we have removed 20 lakh metric tons of silt from big drains through machines. The procedure and plan for tapping each drain is being followed. Decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) should be built on all the drains. We have allocated funds for the revival of existing STPs. Cleaning the Yamuna is not a one-day job, it will take around four-five years till all these decentralised STP plants are started. All the 1,750 unauthorised colonies in Delhi will have to have sewers that will have to be tapped so that not even a single drop of dirty water goes into Yamunaji. The e-flow of Yamuna will have to be increased, natural water will have to be created in it. A major issue with regard to Delhi is air pollution, which becomes particularly bad in what was once the most beautiful season in the city – autumn – and winter because of stubble burning. What are your plans to tackle this? First we need to recall what Kejriwal sahab used to say about fixing air pollution. He used to speak of a medicine that would get rid of stubble and that would fix the air in Delhi. Where is that medicine? Next, he used to speak of odd-even [traffic rule], which only made people buy an extra car, one with an odd number, another with even. To say all this, they spent ₹8 crore on advertisement. Then we came to know that a smog tower was installed somewhere. Only one was installed in 11 years, cost ₹25 lakh and malfunctioned within 6 months. To fix pollution, we need both intentions and policies. So, you will need the support of other governments to solve pollution – both Punjab and Haryana and the multiple agencies within NCR. We have made a plan to convert the public transport in Delhi to only electric vehicles and till now we have put 700 electric buses on the roads. We are planning to take the public transport completely on non-emission mode. We are trying to motivate the public to gradually completely shift from CNG to electric. As far as dust pollution is concerned, not just for the winter months but all year round, we installed 1,000 water sprinklers all over the city, since even today, if your AQI (Air Quality Index) gets higher, GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) is imposed by the court. So these sprinklers should run for 12 months and smog guns should be installed on all high-rise buildings. But how will you deal with this specific issue of stubble? Because that is outside the State, right? Haryana has just set up a plant where they buy stubble from farmers and after processing it, put it to some other use. We must attempt to set up more such plants in the same way, in Haryana, Punjab, U.P., which are on our NCR boundaries, and take their help. As far as I told you about vehicles in Delhi, we will have to certify even those vehicles which come from outside Delhi. The work we are doing is for the benefit of the public but it will take time. You can judge the performance in a time-bound manner. Why is it that Noida, Gurugram, the places around NCR are attracting business, housing, but not Delhi? We have had governments in Delhi which said that they we will turn Delhi into London, Paris. My point is to let Delhi remain Delhi only. Previous governments have created such a difficult situation in Delhi that no one can work here. Firstly, instead of maintaining talking terms with the multiple agencies running Delhi, you start abusing them, that the L-G did this, or the PM did that, etc. So which agency will stay here? Who will be able to work? Today the rate of electricity in Delhi is higher than in the whole country. Because you have made one segment completely free, while the industrial sector has to pay as much as ₹18 per unit of electricity. So you will have to do something to flatten it. If people want to come here and work, then we will have to bring a new industrial policy, a new warehousing policy. We have planned a traders' welfare board so that someone can also listen to the voice of the traders. Ease of doing business, single-window system, all this will have to be done to make Delhi trader-friendly, industry-friendly. One of the most important factors for this is a master plan, which will come very soon with proposals for land reforms. We are developing things related to infrastructure for our industrial areas. Currently, for different taxes, licences, people have to go to different agencies. All these issues are on the table. This is actually a very good time for Delhi for all this with the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), Delhi government and Central government all being headed by the same party, a triple-engine government. Your term has just begun, but what do you wish to see as your legacy? My only goal is that when the public sees me, they should honestly feel that yes, our Chief Minister is here, working for us, doing everything she can for the welfare of the people.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Chief minister inaugurates ayushman arogya mandirs and jan aushadhi kendras in delhi
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta led the inauguration of 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and 17 Jan Aushadhi Kendra units on Tuesday. She formally opened the AAM at Tis Hazari and the Delhi Secretariat. Other ministers inaugurated the centres in their respective constituencies, while BJP MPs and political figures launched the remaining facilities. In her speech at Tis Hazari, Gupta announced that AAMs would replace the mohalla clinics, offering improved healthcare services. CM confirmed AAMS would have permanent, well-equipped infrastructure, staffed by qualified medical professionals. They would offer comprehensive services, including preventive care, family planning, immunisations and essential medicines. She criticised the mohalla clinic model, alleging it fostered corruption instead of benefiting the public. She pointed out that numerous clinics were constructed near drains, staffed by untrained personnel and outsourced all testing, resulting in financial irregularities. She also noted problems like rental costs and clinics becoming centres of antisocial activities. She claimed that the central govt allocated ₹2,400 crore in health grants for Delhi to establish AAMs five years ago, which the previous govt didn't use. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seniors Qualify For the New 87¢ Generic Viagra - See How Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo Her govt intended to establish over 1,100 AAM centres by March next year, she said. The AAMs will deliver extensive healthcare through 12 service packages, among them maternal vaccinations, pre and post-natal care, mental health support, elderly care, and national health programmes addressing TB, leprosy and non-communicable diseases. On-site laboratory testing will be available. She also reiterated govt's commitment to assuring three hospital beds per 1,000 residents in Delhi, ensuring accessible treatment for all citizens. She requested the support of lawyers at the Tis Hazari court in maintaining cleanliness, particularly addressing the issue of poster placement around court premises. As for Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Gupta again criticised the previous govt for its reluctance to establish these centres due to their nomenclature of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana. On Tuesday, 17 such centres in govt hospitals. Operating under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, these will offer medicines and supplies at 50-80% below market rates for the benefit of patients. At the AAM inauguration in Old Barat Ghar in Gupta Enclave, Vikas Nagar, health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said, "Access to quality healthcare and cleanliness is not just a promise — it is the fundamental right of every Delhiite. Our govt is ensuring that this right becomes a reality." Dr Singh confirmed the expansion plans for healthcare, stating, "Wherever there is available govt land, we will establish more facilities to make healthcare and medical treatment more accessible to the city's people. "
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Rain floods roads, disrupts flights; brings heat relief
NEW DELHI Pre-monsoon showers lashed the national capital on Tuesday, leading to widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and flight disruptions. As heavy showers drenched large parts of the city, 12 flights were diverted at Delhi airport between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. due to adverse weather conditions, according to an official. Several low-lying areas were inundated, causing significant delays and commuter woes during peak hours. Water woes Waterlogging was reported at multiple stretches, including the Zakhira underpass, Delhi Cantonment, Pul Prahladpur, Najafgarh Road, and Rohtak Road, affecting traffic movement, according to a senior Delhi Police officer. The Public Works Department received over 50 complaints related to water accumulation. Recurring issues were flagged at the Zakhira underpass, the underpass at Terminal T1, and near the Hanuman Mandir. Other severely affected areas included the Mundka metro station, the Bhera underpass, and Punjabi Bagh. Officials confirmed that Minto Bridge, the infamous flooding hotspot, remained unaffected this time. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued two red alerts at 3.30 p.m. and again at 5.30 p.m., warning of moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of up to 80 km/hr. Delhi's Safdarjung station, the city's representative observatory, recorded 10.4 mm of rain between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. In contrast, Pusa logged 40.5 mm, and Palam received 37.2 mm during the same window. The rain brought some relief from the heat. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 36.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.6 degrees below normal, while the minimum was 28 degrees Celsius, marginally above normal. More rain ahead The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Wednesday, predicting light to moderate rainfall with gusty winds up to 60 km/hr. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is expected to continue daily till June 23, with maximum temperatures remaining below 38 degrees Celsius throughout the week. In an advisory issued for Wednesday, the IMD urged residents to check traffic congestion before leaving for their destination. 'Follow any traffic advisories that are issued. Avoid going to areas that face waterlogging problem often. Stay away from power lines or electrical wires, unplug electrical and electronic appliances. Immediately get out of water bodies. Keep away from all the objects that conduct electricity,' it said. The Air Quality Index on Tuesday stood at 104, placing it in the 'moderate' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia alleged that every Delhiite is fed up with the government. 'Exorbitant school fee hikes, endless power cuts in this heat, the poor are being evicted from their jhuggis, and now the city has drowned in one spell of rain. Why is Delhi still so helpless under a 4-engine BJP government?' he posted on X.
