Severe Rainfall Disrupts Delhi-NCR with Flight Diversions and Flooding

Heavy rains across various regions in northern India on Monday resulted in multiple flight diversions, severe waterlogging, and considerable traffic disruption, particularly in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

The Delhi-NCR area experienced the most intense rainfall, with significant impacts reported in adjoining states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. By 1:30 pm, Gurugram had recorded approximately 70 millimetres of rain, leading to extensive waterlogging in key areas.

Traffic congestion was particularly severe in Gurugram, where many parents were observed carrying their children through flooded streets to reach school buses. Major thoroughfares, such as Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, and portions of Old Gurugram, were adversely affected. Videos shared on social media depicted students navigating through waist-deep water in areas like Sangam Vihar, while locals in Sadar Bazar were similarly impacted.

At the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, adverse weather conditions resulted in the diversion of at least 15 flights. These included 12 redirects to Jaipur, 2 to Chandigarh, and 1 to Lucknow, according to an airport official. Delays and cancellations plagued numerous other flights due to the poor weather. Incoming flights from locations such as Singapore, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar were among those affected, with Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air all reporting diversions.

The meteorological department indicated that much of Uttar Pradesh experienced varied rainfall, with urban areas encountering disruptions to daily life. In Ghaziabad, heavy downpours resulted in severe waterlogging on major roadways. A notable incident involved an auto-rickshaw overturning due to a pothole on a waterlogged road; fortunately, the passengers sustained only minor injuries.

In Rajasthan, heavy rain impacted various districts including Jaipur and Alwar, with many areas experiencing significant flooding. The Kherthal-Tijara region in Alwar, which is part of the National Capital Region, endured heavy rainfall, leading to inundated markets and roads.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh reported light to moderate rain, which resulted in the closure of 98 roads for vehicular traffic as of Monday evening. Many rural areas saw extensive damage; 21 power transformers and water supply systems were also disrupted, as reported by the State Emergency Operation Centre.

Further south, in Odisha, a low-pressure system prompted heavy rainfall across several locations, causing significant disruption. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that eight places recorded over 100 millimetres of rainfall within a 24-hour period. Joda in Keonjhar district registered the highest at 169.4 millimetres, while other areas also reported substantial precipitation.

The IMD has warned that thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning is possible over Gangetic West Bengal over the next few days, due to the presence of a low-pressure area above the region.

This combination of adverse weather conditions has severely impacted normal life, causing widespread disruption in several states and highlighting the need for responsive infrastructure and planning in the face of increasingly erratic weather patterns.