Delhi rains trigger widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls; IMD issues orange alert

Heavy rain lashed the national capital on Tuesday morning, inundating roads and disrupting traffic across several parts of the city, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert warning of more showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds over the next few hours.

Dark clouds blanketed the city since early morning as moderate to heavy rain continued across Delhi. Waterlogging was reported from Connaught Place, Janpath Road, Barakhamba Road, Bharat Mandapam Road, Minto Road, ITO, Raja Park, Rani Bagh, the Shankar Vihar area, Ring Road near the WHO building, Tilak Bridge, Delhi Cantonment, AIIMS, Chhatarpur, Dhaula Kuan and the Zakhira underpass.

The water accumulation triggered traffic snarls on several arterial roads, with slow-moving vehicles reported on Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, Ring Road and stretches around Connaught Place and ITO, disrupting the morning rush hour. Delhi Traffic Police also issued advisories, urging commuters to plan their journeys in view of waterlogging and congestion.

Office-goers and school commuters bore the brunt of the rain, with many reporting significant delays. Several residents and motorists shared visuals on social media showing submerged roads, vehicles wading through waterlogged stretches and long queues of traffic. Residents of low-lying areas said water accumulation after every spell of heavy rain continued to hamper movement despite pre-monsoon desilting efforts.

The IMD has forecast overcast skies with moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds during the day. It has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel during intense spells of rain and remain cautious in waterlogged areas.

Also Read: Delhi: Waterlogging makes a comeback ahead of monsoon

According to the IMD, Safdarjung, the city’s base observatory, recorded 32.4 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am, followed by Ridge at 37.6 mm, Lodi Road at 36.7 mm, Ayanagar at 4.0 mm and Palam at 0.8 mm.

Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Monday, Ridge received 19.4 mm of rainfall, followed by Lodi Road at 11.5 mm, Safdarjung at 8.0 mm and Ayanagar at 3.8 mm, while Palam did not record any rainfall during the period.

The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 25.5 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below normal.

The showers also brought respite from humid conditions and improved the city’s air quality. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 77 at 9 am, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

An AQI between 51 and 100 is considered ‘satisfactory’, while readings between 101 and 200 fall in the ‘moderate’ category.