Delhi Rain Triggers Flight Disruptions As 26 Cancelled And 15 Diverted Amid Red Alert

Due to Monday's intense rain and thunderstorms in the national capital, 26 flights were cancelled and 15 were diverted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to sources.

The diversions followed Monday's intense downpour, which provided relief from the oppressive humidity of the previous day and flooded several areas of the national capital.

The The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms around the capital due to the latest spell, warning of lightning and surface winds of 30 to 40 kmph.

IMD issues red alert for Delhi

The IMD revised its three-hour nowcast at 3 p.m. and issued a red alert for the entire city, suggesting the potential for further intense rainfall. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Gautam Buddha Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh remained under an orange alert.

Sangam Vihar, Sadar Bazar, New Ashok Nagar, and parts of Ghazipur in East Delhi were among the areas of Delhi that remained flooded.

Ongoing infrastructure and municipal projects, according to officials, have temporarily reduced the runoff capacity along a number of these sections.

Waterlogging occurred in Sangam Vihar along a main road that is still under construction and where the permanent stormwater drainage system has not yet been completed. Local drainage at Sadar Bazar is still affected by ongoing Delhi Metro development.

Delhi-NCR records heavy rainfall

Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Janakpuri saw the most rainfall, measuring 67 mm between 8:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

This was followed by 57 mm at Chhatarpur, 54 mm at Faridabad, 52 mm at Gurgaon, 35 mm at Pitampura, and 29 mm at Safdarjung.

Other NCR regions had significant rainfall: the IMD station at Noorpur Choulas in Noida recorded 70 mm of cumulative rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.

In August, Delhi's main meteorological station at Safdarjung recorded 246.2 mm of rainfall during 12 wet days, exceeding the city's long-period average (LPA) of 226.8 mm.

Delhi's drainage system linked to frequent flooding

Urban planners have already noted that the Capital's topographical difficulties are connected to the city's frequent flooding.

Najafgarh, Barapullah, and Trans-Yamuna are the three main natural drainage basins through which the capital's stormwater has traditionally flowed.

The report stated that the city's natural drainage system has been impacted by decades of rapid urban growth, concretisation, encroachments, and variations in building drainage infrastructure design, leaving low-lying regions vulnerable to flooding.

Due in part to their urban development patterns, the National Capital Region (NCR), especially Gurgaon and Noida, has different levels of waterlogging during periods of severe rain.