Heavy rain battered Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening, leaving much of the city waterlogged and causing severe disruptions in daily life. The downpour resulted in the tragic deaths of five people—two in Delhi and three in Gurugram—and led to significant travel delays and safety concerns.
The rain caused extensive flooding across Delhi, stranding citizens for hours and disrupting traffic flow. In Delhi, a woman and her child tragically drowned after slipping into a waterlogged drain in the Ghazipur area. In Gurugram, three individuals were electrocuted when they came into contact with a high-tension wire amidst the rain.
The torrential downpour also affected air travel, with 10 flights bound for Delhi being diverted—eight to Jaipur and two to Lucknow. IndiGo reported ongoing delays in flight operations, advising passengers of the potential for continued disruptions through the morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the region, forecasting continued heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning until August 5. The primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded 79.2 mm of rainfall between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Other areas such as Mayur Vihar saw 119 mm of rain, while Pusa recorded 66.5 mm, Delhi University 77.5 mm, and Palam Observatory 43.7 mm.
Delhi's maximum temperature reached 37.8 degrees Celsius during the day before the rain started. The heavy rainfall also caused structural damage in several areas. A house collapse in north Delhi's Sabzi Mandi area injured one person, while five fire engines struggled to navigate traffic congestion to reach the site. In Vasant Kunj, a woman was injured when a wall collapsed. Additionally, the wall of a private school in Daryaganj collapsed, severely damaging a parked car.
The rain also caused significant traffic jams, especially in key areas of Lutyens' Delhi and routes leading to Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. Old Rajinder Nagar, where students had been protesting the death of three UPSC aspirants due to flooding at a coaching institute basement, was submerged in knee-deep water. In Connaught Place, water entered several showrooms and restaurants, further complicating the situation.
The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories urging commuters to avoid certain roads, while updates on road conditions were continuously provided on social media to inform the public. Citizens were advised to stay indoors, secure windows and doors, and avoid unnecessary travel due to the hazardous conditions.
In response to the adverse weather, Delhi schools have been ordered to remain closed on Thursday, allowing residents to stay safe and avoid the flooded streets.
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