Heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms battered Delhi and the NCR early Sunday, offering relief from the oppressive heat but causing major disruptions across the city.
The downpour, which began late Saturday night, led to severe waterlogging in several areas, with key roads and underpasses submerged, causing traffic snarls and vehicle breakdowns. Notably, the main underpass connecting Delhi to the airport was flooded, leaving dozens of vehicles submerged and damaged. A particularly striking scene was reported from Minto Road, where a car was found almost completely underwater — visuals of which were shared by news agency ANI.
Flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport were significantly hit. According to the airport authority, over 100 flights were affected due to the storm, and 49 flights were diverted between 11:30 pm Saturday and 4:00 am Sunday. The airport issued an advisory noting that delays and disruptions were ongoing, urging passengers to stay in touch with their airlines.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast this event, predicting a dust storm followed by thunderstorms and heavy rain, with gusty winds between 60 to 100 km/h. These conditions materialized as expected, with the highest wind speed recorded at 82 km/h at Safdarjung around 2 am, followed by 76 km/h at Pragati Maidan. The lowest wind gusts were 37 km/h at Delhi University.
Rainfall totals measured till early Sunday morning across parts of Delhi included:
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Safdarjung: 81 mm
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Palam: 68 mm
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Pusa: 71 mm
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Mayur Vihar: 48 mm
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Other areas: Between 5–8 cm
While the storm brought cooler weather, it also highlighted infrastructure vulnerabilities, especially regarding drainage and emergency preparedness. Cleanup and recovery efforts were underway as authorities urged caution and continued monitoring of weather conditions.
