Heavy rain cripples Delhi, triggers widespread waterlogging; IMD issues red alert

The IMD said moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely to continue through the day.

Heavy overnight rain lashed Delhi on Thursday, leaving roads waterlogged, uprooting trees and disrupting traffic across several parts of the city as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red’ alert warning of more rain, thunderstorms and lightning during the day.

Safdarjung, the capital’s base weather station, recorded 72.6 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, the IMD said.

Other weather stations also reported substantial rainfall during the period, with Lodhi Road receiving 80.2 mm, Ridge 77.8 mm, Palam 63.0 mm and Ayanagar 57.4 mm.

The IMD said moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely to continue through the day. The minimum temperature settled at 24.3 degrees Celsius, 3.6 notches below normal.

The downpour caused widespread waterlogging, affecting traffic movement in several parts of the city. Water accumulated on roads at Vikas Marg, parts of East Delhi, New Delhi railway station, Munirka, Sadar Bazar and Dwarka.

Traffic also moved slowly on the Delhi-Noida Expressway due to waterlogging, while commuters and residents shared images and videos of inundated roads and traffic snarls on social media

Two trees were uprooted on Raja Dhir Singh Marg in southeast Delhi’s East of Kailash, disrupting traffic, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) officials said.

One tree fell on the road near the ISKCON temple, while the other came down outside the National Heart Institute, the officials said.

Weather experts attributed the prolonged spell of rain over the past two days to the seasonal monsoon trough shifting northwards from central India towards the Himalayan foothills.

They said Delhi is likely to continue receiving widespread rainfall until the system moves further north, after which the city is expected to witness drier spells.