Heavy rain lashes Delhi-NCR, flights delayed due to waterlogging
What's the story
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several parts of Delhi, warning of moderate rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds. The alert covers most areas of the national capital for the next few hours, advising residents to prepare for potential weather disruptions. The weather department has urged caution as heavy downpours may lead to localized waterlogging and traffic delays across the city.
Travel impact
Rainfall disrupts airport operations, causes traffic jams
Heavy rainfall has caused significant disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, with both arrivals and departures experiencing delays. However, no flight cancelations have been reported so far. Several airlines are issuing advisories to passengers in light of these weather conditions. The downpour has also led to severe waterlogging on many city roads, resulting in major traffic disruptions and jams in areas like NH-48, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, Outer Ring Road and Rohtak Road.
Weather forecast
Rainfall lowers temperature, more showers expected
The IMD has predicted a generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain continuing through the day. The maximum temperature is expected to reach 30°C. Following the showers, the minimum temperature dropped to 21.4°C, which is four degrees below normal. Safdarjung, Delhi's main weather station, recorded 29.6mm of rainfall while other areas like Ridge, Delhi University and Lodhi Road also received significant amounts of rain.
Flood risk
IMD issues heavy rainfall warning for several states
The IMD has also issued a warning for very heavy rainfall in several states, including Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Mizoram and Tripura. A moderate to high risk of flash floods is predicted in several watersheds and neighboring areas in Uttarakhand. In West Bengal, areas such as South and North 24 Parganas are under low to moderate flash flood risk. Similarly, districts in Mizoram and Tripura are also vulnerable to flash floods due to the predicted heavy rainfall.