A red alert has been issued for Delhi-NCR as the region received heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening, causing significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions. The incessant downpours led to the flooding of several key roads and low-lying areas, severely impacting traffic movement and daily life. In response to the adverse weather, ten flights were diverted from Delhi to other locations.
Long queues of vehicles could be seen on major roads such as the Delhi-Noida Expressway and Mathura Road, as well as key locations like ITO, AIIMS, and Sarai Kale Khan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Pragati Maidan observatory in central Delhi recorded 112.5 mm of rainfall in just one hour. Although over 100 mm of rain in one hour is typically termed a 'cloudburst', there has been no official confirmation of this phenomenon.
The National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin listed Delhi as an 'area of concern', and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed officials to stay alert and address issues in waterlogging-prone sites. Delhi Minister Atishi announced that the Municipal Corporation and other government agencies are working to manage the situation. Tragically, in Old Rajinder Nagar, three IAS aspirants died due to flooding in the basement of their institute, prompting student protests in the flooded streets.
The heavy rain also led to significant traffic disruptions across the city. The traffic police issued directions to avoid certain roads where movement was severely impacted. Areas affected include the carriageway from Moolchand towards Chirag Delhi, both carriageways on Anuvrat Marg, and the carriageway from Chirag Delhi towards Nehru Place on Outer Ring Road. Other disrupted locations include Syama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, and several others.
In addition to traffic disruptions, ten flights were diverted from Delhi Airport to Jaipur and Lucknow due to the inclement weather and heavy rain. Waterlogging was reported in multiple areas across Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram, including RK Puram, Janpath, Parliament Street, Karol Bagh, and many others. In Noida, affected areas included Gaur City, Film City, and various underpasses on the Delhi-Noida Expressway, while in Gurugram, water accumulated on key roads like Subhash Nagar and Old Railway Road.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, predicting more heavy rain in the coming hours. The forecast indicates that moderate to heavy rain is likely in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad, with wind speeds expected to reach 30-50 km/h. The weather department has predicted that the rainy conditions will persist until August 5, affecting not just Delhi-NCR but also nearby areas such as Panipat, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Karnal, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nuh, Rewari, Alwar, Narnaul, Palwal, Hodal, Hathin, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, and Mathura.
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