New Delhi: Following a day of intense rainfall that brought large parts of the capital to a standstill, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh rain alerts for Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR). Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds ranging from 30 to 40 km/h is expected to impact several areas throughout Thursday, as a new cloud cluster moves across the region, raising the likelihood of thunderstorms and waterlogging.
The affected locations include most of Delhi along with key areas in NCR such as Loni Dehat, Hindon Air Force Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Faridabad, and Ballabhgarh. The weather department has also extended its alert to other nearby regions including Sonipat, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Sohana, Rewari, Palwal, Bawal, and Nuh in Haryana, as well as Bagpat, Khekra, Modinagar, Pilakhua, Hapur, Gulaoti, and Sikandrabad in Uttar Pradesh, and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.
On Wednesday, heavy downpours led to significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions in various parts of the national capital. Areas like Arvind Marg, G K Marg, Rail Bhawan, Akshardham, Ashram, ITO, Pul Prahladpur, MB Road, MG Road, Old Rohtak Road, Shadipur, Madhuban Chowk, and NH-8 witnessed long jams and inundated stretches, prompting a swift response from local authorities and emergency teams. Initially, no weather alert had been issued in the early hours, but the IMD later upgraded the situation to an orange alert by afternoon and escalated it further to a red alert in the evening, signaling a need for heightened caution and preparedness.
According to the latest IMD bulletin, the rainfall will likely continue intermittently through the day, potentially becoming heavier in the evening due to an eastward-moving cloud system. In light of the weather forecast, residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid taking shelter under trees, steer clear of weak or temporary structures, and avoid visiting waterlogged or low-lying areas.
Despite the heavy rainfall, Delhi recorded a slightly below-normal maximum temperature of 35.6°C, while the minimum temperature was logged at 26.4°C. Humidity levels remained high, ranging from 81% in the morning to 58% by the evening. On a positive note, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 81, which falls in the “satisfactory” range, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board.
