Incessant rains lash Delhi-NCR: roads flooded, traffic disrupted, flights suspended

Heavy rains lashed Delhi early on Friday (June 28), leading to waterlogged roads, traffic snarls, and flooding in low-lying localities across the national capital.

The Safdarjung weather station recorded 153.7 mm of rainfall, which began around 3 am. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines very heavy rain as rainfall amounting to between 124.5 and 244.4 mm in a day.

Operations temporarily suspended at Terminal 1

The heavy rains caused a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 to collapse, killing three persons, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said.

Flight operations were temporarily suspended at Terminal-1, and check-in counters were closed to ensure safety, said airport officials. Twelve arrival flights and 16 departure flights have been cancelled since midnight of Thursday (June 27).

Inundated roads, traffic jams

People posted videos and photos of vehicles stuck in inundated roads and long traffic snarls on social media.

In a post on X, the traffic police said, "Traffic is affected on Outer Ring Road in both carriageways from Shantivan towards ISBT and vice-versa due to waterlogging near Y-Point Saleemgarh and Nigambodh Ghat. Kindly plan your journey accordingly."

Traffic at ITO, Vir Banda Bairagi Marg, Teen Murti Marg, Madhu Vihar, Pragati Maidan, Moti Bagh, Munirka, Bhikaji Cama Place, Dhaula Kuan, and many sectors in Noida were also affected due to waterlogging.

The traffic police announced diversions in many places and told motorists to take alternate routes. Several vehicles were left stranded on roads and underpasses that were submerged under the rainwater.

Drone visuals around AIIMS in Delhi show the entire area waterlogged due to the incessant rain.

Metro rail services affected

The heavy rains also affected the operations of the Delhi Metro in certain places. The shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity metro station to Terminal-1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport has been suspended, according to Delhi Metro officials. Operations at a couple of other metro stations were suspended temporarily.

Delhi govt to hold emergency meeting

The Delhi government will hold an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon (June 28) to take stock of the situation in the city after heavy rains left the national capital waterlogged and brought traffic to a standstill in many areas.

All cabinet ministers and top officials will attend the meeting that will be held at the Secretariat at 2 pm, officials said.

Monsoon finally arrived in Delhi: IMD

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Friday (June 28) that the monsoon had finally arrived in Delhi after a long and severe heat spell in the city.

In an official statement, the IMD said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the entire Delhi region.

Last year, Delhi had welcomed the monsoon on June 26. In 2022, it arrived on June 30, and in 2021, on July 13. In 2020, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 25, according to the data.

(With inputs from agencies)