Delhi is implementing heightened security and traffic restrictions for the five-day AI Impact Summit, deploying over 10,000 police personnel and issuing traffic advisories to minimize disruption to commuters and students.
Police in Delhi report a surge in thefts targeting electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, with multiple incidents of charging gun theft reported in recent months. Investigations are underway following a series of thefts across the city.
The police advised people to follow real-time traffic updates on the 'G-20 Virtual Help Desk' for route suggestions for commuting from/to the airport, railway stations, or bus terminals.
Ahead of the G20 summit, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Thursday went on a final round of inspection of Rajghat, Pragati Maidan and other places to take stock of preparations for the mega event.
Bharadwaj said it has not rained in Delhi in the last 3-4 days, yet still the water level in Yamuna reached 208.66 metres.
Cmmuters faced hard time navigating through water-logged roads and faced traffic congestion.
Major arterial roads in south and east Delhi are expected to witness severe traffic snarls for the next three days in view of the 'World Culture Festival', events hosted by the Radha Soami Satsang Beas, and more than 20,000 weddings scheduled in the city on Friday.
People were seen wading through knee-deep water in several areas. Commuters, too, had a hard time as vehicular traffic crawled on the roads clogged with long tailbacks.
The Delhi Police has asked commuters to avoid Rajpath and its connecting roads on Friday morning as nearly 30,000 people are expected to throng the Red Fort on the occasion of International Day of Yoga, traffic officials said.
The India Meteorological Department said Delhi recorded 139 mm of rainfall, the highest one-day rain for August in at least 13 years.
Police have advised people to use the navigation app 'Mapmyindia' to get around the city till the restrictions are in place.
Streets were waterlogged near the Civic Centre at Minto Road and also in Civil Lines area where various cars were seen half-submerged in water.
The function at India Gate will begin at 9 am, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Alok Kumar, said.
The traffic will be restricted at Connaught Place from 8 pm on Saturday and alcometer will be used for the drunk driving challans.
Delhi's air quality was again in the severe category with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 403 after remaining in the 'very poor' category till Tuesday morning, when the AQI was recorded at 396.
"Yes, we know that the scene is changing everyday and things are becoming difficult, but we are hopeful that Bhairon Singhji with his stature and name would be able to get enough numbers to make it to Rashtrapati Bhavan," a top BJP leader said.
Traffic in national capital Delhi and adjoining Gurugram went haywire on Wednesday after heavy rains resulted in waterlogging in many parts of the city.
The meteorological department has forecast more rains through the day and relative humidity at 100 per cent in Delhi.
