Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi , Aug 25: Heavy rain lashed Delhi and several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday morning, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert as severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions were reported across the national capital.
Several areas, including Parliament Street, Connaught Place, AIIMS, ITO, RK Puram and Ferozeshah Road, witnessed heavy showers. The downpour also led to waterlogging near the AIIMS flyover loop, slowing traffic considerably.
Vehicles were seen moving through waterlogged stretches along Baba Kharak Singh Marg near Connaught Place, while several other major roads experienced traffic congestion.
The adverse weather also affected flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, 16 flights were cancelled and 113 delayed. Airport authorities had not issued an official statement on the weather-related disruptions.
The IMD forecast moderate rain at many places across Delhi, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall likely at isolated locations. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also expected.
Gurugram and Faridabad have been placed under a yellow alert, while Noida remained heavily overcast. The IMD has not issued a specific weather warning for Noida.
The latest spell comes a day after heavy rain brought Delhi-NCR to a standstill, causing widespread waterlogging, prolonged traffic jams and major disruption to commuters.
On Monday, 26 flights were cancelled, 15 diverted and more than 390 delayed amid intense rainfall.
The persistent showers have also pushed Delhi’s rainfall figures above normal levels. Till August 24, Safdarjung recorded 246.2 mm of rainfall against the normal 191.1 mm, an excess of 29 per cent. Palam recorded 227.2 mm, while Lodi Road received 233.2 mm.
Ridge recorded 243 mm, which was 50 per cent above normal, while Ayanagar received 266.3 mm, an excess of 66 per cent.
The IMD has attributed the intense rainfall to the interaction of a middle- and upper-level western disturbance with a lower-tropospheric trough extending from a low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal towards southwest Uttar Pradesh.
With more heavy rain forecast, residents have been advised to remain cautious, particularly while travelling through waterlogged and low-lying areas.