The Mishap Came As Heavy Rain Triggered Waterlogging Across the City and the IMD Issued a Red Alert

Three schoolchildren were rescued after falling into a drain hidden beneath floodwater in Delhi's Jagatpur, with the incident captured on CCTV. The mishap came as heavy rain triggered waterlogging across the city and the IMD issued a red alert. Three schoolchildren were rescued after falling into an overflowing drain concealed beneath floodwater in north Delhi's Jagatpur on Thursday, as heavy rains continued to batter the national capital, triggering widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls and fresh safety concerns, PTI reported.

The incident, captured on CCTV and widely shared on social media, showed nearly 10 schoolchildren in uniform wading through calf-deep water on a flooded road. As they walked through the submerged stretch, three children suddenly disappeared after stepping into what was reportedly an overflowing drain hidden beneath the accumulated rainwater. The remaining children panicked, with one girl seen screaming to warn others about the hidden danger.

Residents, motorists and passersby rushed to the spot within seconds and pulled the children to safety, preventing what could have turned into another rain-related tragedy. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi on Friday, forecasting moderate rainfall at many places and heavy rain at isolated locations accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. According to the IMD, Safdarjung recorded 59.2 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am on Friday, while Lodhi Road received 60.4 mm, Ridge 57 mm, Ayanagar 26.2 mm, and Palam 16.9 mm.

The weather office has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Delhi until August 10. Heavy rainfall led to severe traffic congestion across several parts of Delhi, including Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, ITO, Wazirabad Road, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Shankar Road, Kirti Nagar, the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Peeragarhi and Shaheen Bagh. Waterlogging was also reported from areas such as Dakshinpuri, Okhla, Sangam Vihar, Sainik Farms and stretches of Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, while traffic disruptions were reported in parts of East Delhi, including GT Road, GTB Enclave and Dilshad Garden. The viral CCTV footage has renewed concerns over uncovered drains and civic preparedness during Delhi's monsoon season, particularly in heavily waterlogged neighbourhoods.

Prabhakar Jha is a journalist and digital news editor with nearly a decade of experience in online media, specialising in breaking news, politics, national affairs. Having built his career across fast-paced digital newsrooms, he has developed a reputation for delivering accurate, timely, and reader-friendly stories while leading editorial teams during high-pressure news cycles. In 2026, he joined LiveMint as a Digital Content Producer. A postgraduate in History from the University of Delhi, Prabhakar combines strong editorial judgment with a keen interest in public policy, governance, economics, and global affairs.