Heavy overnight rain brought much of Delhi and its surrounding areas to a standstill on Saturday, leaving several parts of the city waterlogged and disrupting flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The downpour, which coincided with Raksha Bandhan, delayed more than 130 flights and led to the cancellation of four others, according to Flightradar data.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the entire capital, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms throughout the day, with the likelihood of intense spells over east and central Delhi.
The IGI Airport advised passengers to confirm the status of their flights with their airlines. “As per the IMD forecast, Delhi is experiencing inclement weather conditions. However, operations are currently normal,” the airport said in a statement.
Airlines including IndiGo and SpiceJet issued advisories on X, urging passengers to factor in traffic congestion when travelling to the airport.
One Delhi resident returning from Thiruvananthapuram described the impact of the weather on travel. “My flight landed at IGI Airport at 11.45 p.m., but it took me over three hours to reach my home in Mayur Vihar, just 25 kilometres away. There was an hour-long traffic jam at the Sarai Kale Khan intersection and at least four stretches were waterlogged,” he told the reporters.
The rainfall, which began late Friday, continued with the same intensity into Saturday morning, flooding several underpasses and clogging major roads.
On Friday, heavy traffic was reported along National Highway 44 and near the Haryana border — congestion likely to worsen throughout the day given the holiday and the weather conditions.
While the rain brought relief from the recent heat and humidity, it also created challenges for commuters and emergency services. The IMD has warned that heavy rain will persist in parts of northern India, with an orange alert in place for three districts in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
Since June 20th, more than 200 people have died in Himachal Pradesh due to rain-related incidents, according to state authorities.
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