Gurugram reels under torrential rains
Gurugram witnessed relentless rainfall on Monday evening that extended well into the night, leaving the city grappling with waterlogging, severe traffic disruptions, and chaos on key arterial roads. According to the district administration, more than 100 mm of rainfall was recorded between 3 pm and 7 pm in several parts of the city, prompting authorities to issue urgent advisories.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had already sounded an orange alert for September 2, warning of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in Gurugram. In response, the Gurugram District Magistrate announced that all schools would conduct online classes on Tuesday.
Online classes mandated for schools
In an advisory issued late on Monday night, the District Magistrate directed that every school in the district should shift to online learning for September 2. The order was intended to prevent students, teachers, and staff from facing difficulties due to inundated roads and unpredictable weather conditions.
“Given the forecast and prevailing situation, all schools in Gurugram district are hereby advised to hold online classes on 02-09-2025,” the advisory stated. The district administration also extended similar instructions to corporate offices and private institutions, urging them to allow employees to work from home.
Severe traffic snarls across the city
The heavy downpour created massive disruptions for commuters. National Highway-48, which connects Gurugram to Delhi, saw traffic snarls stretching up to seven kilometres, leaving motorists stranded for hours. Sohna Road and other internal stretches of the city were also severely affected by waterlogging.
Police Commissioner Vikas Arora and Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar carried out late-night inspections at multiple choke points, including NH-48 and Sohna Road, to monitor the situation. Officials confirmed that continuous efforts were underway to deploy additional traffic personnel, pumps, and barricades to manage the chaos.
Despite these interventions, commuters reported being stuck in jams that lasted for several hours, with many vehicles breaking down in knee-deep water. Residents also expressed frustration on social media, highlighting the lack of preparedness in dealing with heavy monsoon showers.
Public urged to exercise caution
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities. He advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors unless urgent work required them to step out.
“The district administration appeals to the public to exercise caution in view of the weather conditions, avoid stepping out of their homes unnecessarily, and follow the administration’s guidelines,” Kumar wrote.
Local authorities further advised residents to avoid low-lying areas, refrain from parking vehicles under trees, and follow safety instructions issued by the traffic police.
Rainfall pattern across Delhi-NCR
While Gurugram bore the brunt of the torrential rainfall, other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) also received heavy showers. In Delhi, the Safdarjung weather station recorded 18.6 mm of rainfall till 5:30 pm on Monday. Palam received 30.8 mm, Aya Nagar 48.9 mm, and Lodhi Road 16.2 mm.
The continuous showers led to reduced visibility at Palam airport, which reported a minimum of 800 metres around 3 pm. The maximum temperature in Delhi dipped to 30.8 degrees Celsius—3.7 degrees below normal for this time of year. The minimum temperature stood at 23.7 degrees Celsius, nearly three degrees lower than average.
Orange alert remains in force
With the orange alert still active, officials have warned residents that heavy rains may continue through Tuesday. The IMD cautioned that more downpours could worsen waterlogging in urban pockets, increase the risk of traffic snarls, and disrupt normal life.
The Gurugram administration reiterated that it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with civic agencies to ensure that drainage pumps, emergency response units, and disaster relief teams remained on high alert. Citizens have been urged to keep track of official advisories and avoid spreading misinformation.
As schools and offices transition to online operations for the day, the city continues to brace itself for another spell of heavy rain, hoping that preparedness will mitigate further disruptions.
