New Delhi, August 25: Heavy rain lashed Delhi and several parts of the National Capital Region on Tuesday morning, causing widespread waterlogging and disrupting traffic movement. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for several districts of Delhi, warning of further heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas.
Red alert for Delhi
The IMD’s district-level warning covered North Delhi, Central Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, West Delhi, South-West Delhi, New Delhi, South Delhi, South-East Delhi, Shahdara and East Delhi. The red alert was valid until 9:45 am, with moderate rain expected at many places and isolated heavy to extremely heavy showers possible.
Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds were also forecast. Winds could reach 40–50 kmph, with gusts of up to 60 kmph in some areas.
Waterlogging and traffic disruption
Several parts of the capital, including Parliament Street, Connaught Place, AIIMS, ITO, RK Puram and Ferozeshah Road, received heavy showers. Severe waterlogging was reported near the AIIMS flyover loop and other low-lying areas, slowing traffic during the morning rush hour.
The latest rainfall comes a day after heavy showers caused widespread disruption across Delhi-NCR, with major roads witnessing long traffic jams and waterlogging.
Flights affected by bad weather
Air travel has also been affected by the adverse weather. On Monday, 26 flights were cancelled and 15 flights were diverted from Delhi airport, while hundreds of other services were delayed or affected. Several airlines issued advisories asking passengers to check their flight status and allow extra travel time.
Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory on Tuesday morning, saying that inclement weather was expected in the vicinity of the airport. At that time, flight operations were reported to be normal, but passengers were advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates.
Gurugram and other NCR areas
Gurugram and Faridabad were placed under a yellow alert, while Noida remained heavily overcast without a specific weather warning at the time of the reports. Rain and thunderstorms were nevertheless expected across several parts of the NCR.
Gurugram, which faced severe waterlogging and traffic problems on Monday, has advised corporate offices and other workplaces to allow employees to work from home on August 25. Schools and educational institutions have also been advised to conduct classes online.
Rain likely to ease from Wednesday
According to the IMD, rainfall activity is expected to ease from August 26, with partly cloudy skies and no significant rain forecast for Delhi through August 30. Temperatures are likely to rise gradually over the coming days.
Authorities have advised commuters to exercise caution and check traffic and flight updates before travelling as rain-related disruptions continue across Delhi-NCR.
