Red Fort Closed to Public as Heavy Monsoon Rains Continue in Delhi

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) announced on Thursday that the iconic Red Fort in Delhi will remain closed to the general public and visitors from the second half of July 13 to July 14 due to heavy monsoon rainfall in the national capital.

In an official notification, the Director General of ASI invoked Rule 5 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, to declare the temporary closure. The decision was made considering the safety and well-being of visitors amidst the inclement weather conditions.

The Regional Weather Forecast Centre (RWFC) in Delhi predicted light to moderate intensity rain in South-West Delhi and surrounding areas. The forecast included the possibility of thunderstorms with light to moderate rain in isolated places such as South-West Delhi, South Delhi, NCR (Gurugram, Manesar), Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar, Khurja, and Pahasu (U.P.) over the next two hours.

With the Yamuna River flowing above the danger level, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged residents in flood-affected areas to refrain from leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary. He stated that the water level of the Yamuna River would peak by 3-4 pm on Thursday before receding.

The impact of the heavy rainfall was evident as the water reached the Ring Road behind the Red Fort. Shops around Kashmere Gate will remain closed until Sunday due to the flood situation. At 6 pm on Thursday, the water level of the Yamuna River was recorded at 208.66 meters.

The rising water level of the Yamuna River has resulted in the inundation of low-lying areas and disrupted traffic movement on major roads. Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Ring Road) between IP Flyover and Chandgi Ram Akhara, Mahatma Gandhi Marg between Kalighat Mandir and Delhi Secretariat, and Outer Ring Road between Wazirabad Bridge and Chandgi Ram Akhara are among the affected areas. Nigam Bodh Ghat has also experienced flooding. The situation has caused traffic congestion on the GT Karnal Road in the national capital.

Authorities continue to closely monitor the flood situation and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the public.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *