89 People Died from Drowning in Delhi in Last Two Years: How Long Will Systemic Negligence Continue?

New Delhi: Negligence in governance has claimed the lives of 89 people in Delhi due to drowning incidents over the past two years. Fatalities were not limited to rivers or canals but also occurred in open sewers, waterlogged underpasses, and areas with heavy water accumulation. These deaths have occurred despite the government’s repeated claims of having robust rescue and disaster management plans.

Fatalities Overview
According to data presented during a recent session in the Delhi Assembly, between January 2024 and December 2025, 89 people lost their lives due to drowning. Incidents include:

• Water accumulation in the Sarita Vihar underpass.
• Children falling into open sewer covers in East Delhi.
• Deaths caused by waterlogging near Alivihar police chowki and other localities.

These tragedies were not limited to riverbanks or canal areas; even central urban areas like New Delhi witnessed drowning fatalities, with three reported deaths in a single locality.

Government’s Claims and Additional Causes
Among these drowning cases, one death occurred during sewer line cleaning. Apart from drowning, building collapses during heavy rainfall claimed 46 lives, while fires caused 53 deaths. Additionally, electrocution due to rainwater exposure resulted in three more fatalities.

The Delhi government maintains that victims are compensated in such incidents. Documents indicate that in some drowning cases, compensation of up to ₹30 lakh per case has been provided. Despite these measures, the recurring fatalities highlight systemic lapses in disaster preparedness and public safety infrastructure.

This data raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of Delhi’s flood and water-logging management systems, the maintenance of sewers and underpasses, and the accountability mechanisms in place to prevent such tragedies.