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Mint
a day ago
- Climate
- Mint
Delhi Weather Alert: Red warning! Heavy rainfall lashes national capital, IMD predicts more showers
Delhi Weather Alert: Red warning! Heavy rainfall lashes national capital, IMD predicts more showers | In Pics 15 Photos . Updated: 29 Jul 2025, 12:43 PM IST Share Via Delhi Weather Alert: Some areas of the national capital experienced light rainfall early Sunday, with the minimum temperature recorded at 28.8 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees above the normal for this time of year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 1/15View of Kannan v People walking in the rain in Jangpura, on Tuesday New Delhi. July 29 kk (PTI) 2/15View of Kannan v People walking in the rain in Jangpura, on Tuesday New Delhi. July 29 kk (PTI) 3/15New Delhi: Commuters wade through a waterlogged road during rainfall, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) (PTI) 4/15New Delhi, India - July 23, 2025: MCD worker trying to open the choked drains waterlogged roads during heavy rainfall on NH-24 near the Vinod Nagar in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Photo by RAJ K RAJ / Hindustan Times) (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) 5/15New Delhi: A rickshaw pullar during rainfall, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (PTI Photo/Karma Bhutia) (PTI07_29_2025_000046A) (PTI) 6/15New Delhi, India - July 28, 2025: People seen out during sudden rains at Kartavyapath in New Delhi, India, on Monday, July 28, 2025. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) 7/15People enjoy the rain at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. (ANI Photo) (HT_PRINT) 8/15Children play in an artificial pond at Kartavya Path during heavy rainfall in New Delhi on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) (AFP) 9/15New Delhi: People perform 'Mudgal' exercise during rainfall, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_29_2025_000026B) (PTI) 10/15New Delhi, India - July 28, 2025: People seen out during sudden rains at Kartavyapath in New Delhi, India, on Monday, July 28, 2025. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) 11/15New Delhi: Commuters wade through a waterlogged road after rain, in New Delhi, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI07_23_2025_000254B) (PTI) 12/15New Delhi, Jul 23(ANI): Commuters wade through a waterlogged road after heavy rainfall, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Ishant Chauhan) (Ishant Chauhan) 13/15New Delhi, India - July 22, 2025: Police officers waits infront of the Protest site where Congress party workers protest going on at Jantar Mantar during Heavy rain in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) 14/15New Delhi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra amid rainfall during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) (PTI07_22_2025_000403A) (PTI)
Hindustan Times
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Rust and red tape: What ails Delhi's scrappage drive
In the dusty and cluttered corners of Delhi's urban sprawl, past the clamour of flyovers and tail lights, lie graveyards of metal and memory. Over 17,000 vehicles — rusted shells stacked in precarious towers — clog 26 impound yards across the Capital. These 'open malkhanas' have become holding zones for Delhi's End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), condemned by age, air pollution laws, and court orders. Delhi's only Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) in Badarpur on Friday. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) But the city's ambitious scrappage mission is choking on its own backlog. In early July, the Delhi government — under pressure from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) — launched yet another drive to tow and scrap ELVs. Barely 100 vehicles were impounded in the first two days. Meanwhile, the yards are nearing capacity, scrapping facilities are limited, and officials admit they're caught in a 'Catch-22'. 'There are 17 registered scrapping centres in the NCR, but only one in Delhi — and that too is just two months old. Towing vehicles to places like Sonepat or Hapur adds to our costs. At the same time, we can't keep dumping them in yards that are already overflowing,' said a senior transport department official. 'We need alternatives. Otherwise, this is a logistical deadlock.' A legal mandate, a logistical mess The crackdown on ELVs across NCR began with National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders in 2014, which was then reinforced by the Supreme Court in 2018 – effectively barred diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 from Delhi's roads. In August 2023, the Delhi High Court directed the administration to frame concrete guidelines to deal with such vehicles. Those guidelines — titled Handling of End-of-Life Vehicles in Public Places, 2024 — now govern the campaign. The rules say even stationary ELVs parked in public spaces are deemed to be 'plying' and are eligible for seizure. 'Our job is to enforce the law, not make exceptions,' said a senior Delhi Traffic Police officer. Typically, impoundment begins when a vehicle is flagged — by patrolling units, complaints through the MCD-311 app, or during special drives. A team issues a seizure memo and the vehicle is towed to the nearest impound yard. The pits in Nehru Place, Rohini, and Shadipur are among the most congested. 'We're adding 20 vehicles a day, but we barely have space. Some have been lying here for over a year,' said a guard at Shadipur. Once impounded, each vehicle's details — make, model, registration, condition — are logged. Owners then have a 21-day window to reclaim it, by paying penalties and providing proof of private parking or relocation outside NCR. If unclaimed — or impounded again — the vehicle is marked for scrapping. But in practice, officials say, many vehicles linger in the yards far beyond that. These cars stay in the yards for months because many of these remain unclaimed. Also, often the transport department or police seize the vehicles and keep them in yards but do not send them to RVSFs because it involves high transportation cost for sending it to a centre in NCR, including fuel cost and taxes at borders. At a scrapping centre Delhi currently depends on 17 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) across the NCR — from Bawana to Ballabhgarh — all certified under the Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, only one, EZWaste Recycling Pvt Ltd, operates within Delhi city limits, in Badarpur. This centre started operations only last month. 'We only accept vehicles with proper documents — either registered online or sent via the transport department,' said Deepender Yadav, who runs EZWaste. 'We have to maintain video evidence for every single dismantled vehicle.' Yadav walked us through the process: Every vehicle undergoes a thorough decontamination process, followed by dismantling, segregation, and final compaction into a 14x14 inch metal cube. The first step is de-pollution. The vehicle is cleaned with a high-pressure washer to remove dust and carbon particles. The plant must have a functional effluent treatment plant (ETP) to process runoff. Before dismantling, the vehicle is scanned for radiation — a safety check to prevent accidents from battery leaks or residual emissions. AC gas and CNG tanks are emptied. 'Then we drain six fluids — fuel, coolant, radiator liquid, washer fluid, grease, and brake oil. These are stored safely and transported to our Khatauli facility in UP for eco-friendly disposal,' Yadav said. Next comes the dismantling: Pneumatic guns slice through the axle. The engine number is logged before the engine is shredded. The chassis number is also removed. Parts are stripped one by one — batteries, tyres, plastics, metals, glass, electronics. The bonnet, bumper, dashboard, airbags, mirrors, and steering are all extracted for recycling or safe disposal. What remains is the skeletal frame. That, too, is chopped up using plasma cutters, and the carcass is compressed into a cube using a bailing machine. 'For some vehicles, the cubes are slightly larger for transportation, but the process remains the same,' said Yadav. The final ferrous mass is weighed, and its scrap value is calculated. As per RVSF norms, the owner receives 50% of the price of the recoverable metal (estimated at 60-70% of the vehicle's unladen weight). The amount is transferred digitally within 15 days. If unclaimed, it's deposited with the enforcement agency. According to Yadav, four-wheelers typically fetch ₹20,000 to ₹60,000. Two-wheelers bring in ₹1,600 to ₹2,800. The difference, however, is stark when compared to the grey market. 'At illegal scrapping centres, parts are sold off individually, and owners might get more. But that's dangerous — those parts can end up in unsafe vehicles or even aid criminal activities,' Yadav warned. 'At a registered RVSF, nothing is reused — everything is either recycled or destroyed.' Backlog of the abandoned Delhi has over 5.5 million deregistered vehicles, many of them still occupying public space — parked under flyovers, beside parks, or within gated societies. Only a fraction have been impounded or scrapped. Officials admit that the scale of the problem dwarfs the existing infrastructure. 'We need more RVSFs, especially within city limits,' said another transport official. 'We're trying to promote voluntary scrapping by offering incentives and streamlining documentation, but it's slow.' To accelerate the process, the department has issued public notices and brochures explaining the scrapping procedure. Citizens can check their vehicle's status online and book scrapping appointments through the Parivahan portal. But behaviour change is hard to legislate. For many owners, the vehicles carry sentimental value — or they're simply unaware that their car or scooter is now illegal to use. Others want to extract maximum value from parts, turning to the informal sector. The result is a growing inventory of impounded junk, mounting daily.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
IMD issues red alert for Jharkhand, schools shut amid heavy rain; Delhi-NCR to receive more showers today
As monsoon rains continue to lash over India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy showers and flash floods in Jharkhand. Meanwhile, an orange alert has been issued for Himachal Pradesh amid the monsoon fury. Commuters are seen during a Evening rain at ISBT Kashmere Gate Road in New Delhi, India, (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) Furthermore, the IMD has also predicted light rain and thunderstorms across Delhi and the national capital region. IMD Weather Forecast Red alert in Jharkhand, schools shut In Jharkhand, the IMD has issued a red warning for heavy rainfall and flash floods. As per the weather department, a 'red' alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Saraikela-Kharswan, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum districts. Meanwhile, an 'orange' alert is in place for very heavy rainfall in Gumla, Khunti, and Simdega districts. In view of the IMD alerts, all government, private and minority schools up to class 12 in East Singhbhum district have been closed. As per an order issued by deputy commissioner Karn Satyarthi, school authorities were asked to conduct online classes to avert any disruption of studies. The Ranchi Meteorological Centre deputy director Abhishek Anand told news agency PTI that the state is likely to experience a widespread rainfall till July 17. "A well marked low pressure area over Southeast Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh concentrated into a depression. It is likely to move west–northwestwards across Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours," he added. Light rain, thunderstorm expected over Delhi-NCR With monsoon set across the capital, Delhi and neighbouring regions of Noida and Gurugram continue to witness spells of rainfall. On Monday, a yellow alert was issued for Delhi for light to moderate rainfall. According to the IMD, more showers are expected over Delhi on Tuesday, with the possibility of thunderstorms. Orange alert for flood-hit Himachal Pradesh In Himachal Pradesh, nearly 100 people have been killed in rain-related incidents. As rains continue over the state, an orange alert has been issued for six districts. "For July 14 and 15, we expect light to moderate rainfall in most mid-hill and low-hill districts. However, Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts are under Orange Alert for today due to the likelihood of heavy to heavy rainfall, and this activity will continue tomorrow as well," Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at the Shimla Meteorological Centre, told news agency PTI. Downpour expected over Bengal, MP sees record rainfall In West Bengal, the IMD has predicted heavy rain due to a well-marked low depression over the southeast Gangetic West Bengal. As per the weather department, heavy downpour is likely in South 24 Parganas, East and West Bardhaman districts till Tuesday morning. The IMD further added that light to moderate rain is likely to occur across districts of south Bengal, with heavy downpour in Purulia, Bankura, East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts till Wednesday. In Madhya Pradesh, IMD officials have stated that the state has received 76 per cent higher rainfall than average. "Madhya Pradesh has received 456.6 mm rainfall against the average of 260 mm from June 1 to July 14. This is 76 per cent excess rainfall. Tikamgarh has received 828.3 mm against its average of 250.4 mm," IMD senior meteorologist VS Yadav told PTI.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Kerala +2 SAY result 2025 news: Where to check results when announced
The Directorate of General Education, Kerala, will announce the Kerala Plus Two or Class 12 Save A Year (SAY) exam results on its official websites. When declared, candidates who have appeared for the Kerala +2 SAY exam can check their results at and on the Kerala results website, Kerala +2 SAY result 2025 news: Where to check results when out(RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) Also read: TS POLYCET Allotment Result 2025 Live: Where to check results when announced As per various media reports, Kerala Plus Two SAY results 2025 will be announced soon. However, there is no official confirmation about the result date and/or time yet. The Kerala SAY or improvement examination started on June 23 and ended on June 26, 2025. The papers were held in two shifts- first shift from 9.30 am to 12.15 pm and the second shift from 2 pm to 4.45 pm. Fifteen minutes of cool-off time were allotted to candidates. Also read: UGC NET Result 2025 News Live: Where to check final answer key, scores when out Kerala Plus Two SAY Result 2025: How to check results when announced After the official announcement, candidates can check their Kerala Plus Two results by following the steps given below. 1. Visit the official website, 2. Open the Kerala Plus Two SAY Result 2025 link available on the home page. 3. Enter your login details. 4. Click on submit, and your result will be displayed. 5. Check the result. Also read: SBI PO 2025 registration for 541 vacancies ends today at To pass the Kerala Plus Two SAY examination, candidates need to secure at least 30 per cent marks in each paper and 30 per cent in aggregate. Candidates are advised to visit the official websites for updates about their results.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi set to get new drainage plan in 15 days: PWD
A draft of the new drainage master plan for Delhi will be ready in the next 15 days, Public Works Department (PWD) minister Parvesh Verma said on Saturday, adding that survey reports and suggestions from consultants appointed a year ago will be incorporated in the draft. Delhi PWD minister Parvesh Verma (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) After assessing the draft, work will be commenced to revamp the drainage system of the Capital that was laid over 50 years ago. 'We have received the report for the Najafgarh basin while reports on Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna basins will also be submitted in about 15 days. After we have all three reports, we will start the work on revamping the drainage network of Delhi. We have seen that drains are in dire need for repair and upgrade. We will start with the priority areas where urgent interventions are needed,' said Verma. Notably, Delhi primarily has three large drainage basins — Najafgarh, Trans-Yamuna, and Barapullah. The drainage master plan has remained long overdue as it was last prepared in 1976. A new plan was initially proposed in 2009, but has not seen any progress as yet. In May 2023, the PWD finally appointed a consultant for making a drainage master plan for Delhi's Najafgarh basin — largest of the three basins. The consultant was given one year to complete the project, which has recently been submitted. Officials said that based on the recommendations by the consultants, PWD will check the feasibility and prepare estimates, which will then be sent to the government for approval before work begins. Bids were also floated to appoint consultants for the other two basins — Trans-Yamuna and Barapullah — about six months later. 'Meanwhile, if there are smaller, local suggestions, we will try to implement those along the way,' a PWD official said. According to estimates by PWD, the city's old drainage system can cater to a maximum of 50mm rainfall in a day. Anything more than that overwhelms the system, resulting in flooding of arterial roads and massive traffic jams. On days of heavy rainfall over 50mm within a brief period, gaps in the water drainage capacity get exposed. Several such heavy rainfall days have been observed in the last two years when the rainfall was more than what Delhi's existing drainage network is designed to handle. Last year, the monsoon in Delhi was about 61% in excess, with actual rainfall of 1,029.9mm against its normal value of 640.4mm. Last year Delhi received 7th highest seasonal rainfall in the monsoon season since 1901. The city recorded one 'extremely heavy' (>204.4mm), six 'heavy' (64.5 to 115.5mm) and 28 'moderate' (15.6 to 64.4mm) rainfall days over Delhi. Officials explained that when the master plan was last prepared in 1976, Delhi's population was around six million. However, as per the draft of the Master Plan Delhi 2021, Delhi's estimated population was around 25 million in 2021 and the total urbanised area is likely to be around 920 square kilometres. 'With changing geographical and demographic conditions over the years, it is important to upgrade and modify the drainage network accordingly so that it can handle the discharge in the current situation. Over the years, there have also been changes to the system, local interventions for solutions at some places, blockage and encroachment at other places. All these need to be looked at and solutions have to be implemented,' said another PWD official. Officials added that the irrigation and flood control department has already conducted the initial topographical surveys and other studies. The consultants have used those to come up with implementable action points.
