Four of a family killed as house collapses in southwest Delhi following heavy rains

A scene of spot where a woman and her three children died after a tree fell on their house in Jaffarpur Kalan, in New Delhi, on Friday, May 2, 2025
| Photo Credit: Aman Raj

A 28-year-old woman and her three children, the youngest just seven months old, were killed in the early hours of Friday (May 2, 2025) when their house collapsed in the Jaffarpur area of southwest Delhi following heavy rains and strong winds reaching up to 80 kmph. According to the Delhi Police, a tree had fallen on the structure, resulting in the fatalities. The woman’s husband sustained minor injuries and is reported to be in stable condition.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹25 lakh for the bereaved family.

The downpour led to widespread waterlogging across the city, causing traffic congestion and power disruptions in several localities as trees and branches brought down overhead cables. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (DDL) stated that electricity supply was temporarily suspended in certain areas as a precautionary measure to prevent electrocution.

This is the second highest rainfall since 1901, for a 24-hour period in May for Delhi, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

However, on Thursday, the IMD’s daily forecast predicted only “very light rain/drizzle” for Delhi on Friday. 

Attributing the infrastructural challenges to the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration, Ms. Gupta said, “Waterlogging is not just a seasonal concern but a result of long-standing structural neglect. Immediate steps are being undertaken to address the issue, and nodal officers have been appointed for each affected location.” She warned that departments failing to act on drain cleaning and road maintenance ahead of the monsoon would face strict action.

Meanwhile, the AAP criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the “four-engine government” had failed the Capital at the first sign of rain.

The Public Works Department (PWD) said it had deployed 150 quick response teams and received 100 complaints of waterlogging by noon. Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers have been assigned responsibility for all 335 waterlogging points under the PWD.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) received 69 complaints related to waterlogging and uprooted trees, while the Delhi Fire Services responded to 98 rain-related calls within a span of three to four hours.

According to the IMD, Delhi recorded 77 mm of rainfall over a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, most of which (60 mm) occurred between 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The rainfall brought down the day’s maximum temperature to 29.1°C, which is 10.2 degrees below the seasonal average.

A yellow alert has been issued for Saturday, with the IMD forecasting light to very light rainfall accompanied by surface winds up to 30 kmph. Light rainfall is expected to continue in the city till May 8.

In areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), officials reported 25 cases of tree felling and 12 waterlogging complaints.