Heavy rains accompanied by a dust storm early Friday morning threw life out of gear in the national capital, leading to massive traffic snarls and widespread waterlogging.
Commuters, including office workers and school children, were caught in long traffic jams as key roads across the city became impassable. Uprooted trees and submerged underpasses added to the chaos.
Among the worst-hit areas were Dwarka Underpass, South Extension, Major Somnath Marg, Ring Road, Minto Road, RK Puram, Khanpur, Chhatarpur ,ITO, and Lajpat Nagar, where waterlogging caused severe congestion and commuter distress.
Dramatic visuals flooded social media, showing vehicles struggling through knee-deep water.
In a tragic incident in Najafgarh, four people lost their lives after a tree collapsed onto a house during the storm, causing it to cave in.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi, warning residents to remain highly cautious. Citizens have been advised to stay indoors, avoid sheltering under trees, unplug electrical devices, and steer clear of water bodies and metal objects.
Also Read: Dellhi: Three dead from electrocution amid waterlogging in Kirari; police say nothing can be done
Flight operations have also been affected due to the inclement weather.
An official said two flights that were to land at the Delhi airport were diverted to Jaipur and one to Ahmedabad.
More than 200 flights were delayed, according to data from flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the airport, in a post on X at 5.20 am, said some flights were affected owing to inclement weather conditions.
DIAL, in a post on X at 7.25 AM, said the thunderstorm has passed but there is some impact on flight operations due to adverse weather conditions.
In a post at 8.20 AM, DIAL said the airport is operating as normal, despite some impact on flight operations due to adverse weather conditions.
“Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience,” it added
(With inputs from PTI)
