Heavy rain lashed Delhi and several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday, August 25, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.
The downpour caused severe waterlogging and traffic disruption at several locations, including AIIMS, Parliament Street, Connaught Place, ITO, RK Puram and Ferozeshah Road.
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, flight-tracking data showed cancellations and delays during the morning, although the airport initially said operations were normal and advised passengers to check directly with their airlines.
The fresh spell followed Monday’s intense rainfall, when 26 flights were cancelled, 15 diverted and more than 390 delayed. In Gurugram, authorities advised offices and educational institutions to adopt work-from-home and online classes to reduce road congestion and enable civic agencies to undertake drainage and road maintenance.
Waterlogging Disrupts Morning Rush
The Tuesday downpour quickly overwhelmed several stretches of the capital, with water accumulating on roads and at major traffic points. The AIIMS flyover loop was among the worst-affected locations, while rain was also reported around Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Bhikaji Cama Place, Shanti Path and RK Puram.
Visuals shared by news agencies and circulating online showed commuters and vehicles navigating flooded roads, with some stretches becoming difficult to cross. Monday’s rainfall had already left parts of Sangam Vihar and Zakhira under deep water, while roads around Connaught Place, Parliament Street and Shivaji Stadium were also affected.
The IMD’s 6:45 am warning said heavy rainfall was likely over Delhi for the following two to three hours, while its 9:30 am bulletin forecast moderate rain at many places, with isolated heavy to extremely heavy showers, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. The weather office attributed the spell to a combination of a monsoon trough and associated weather systems affecting northern and central India.
Flights And NCR Disruption
Air travel was also caught in the wider disruption, although the situation changed rapidly through the morning. Early reports citing Flightradar24 showed 16 cancellations and more than 100 delays, while later updates reported that the numbers had risen further as the weather continued to affect operations.
Delhi Airport, in a passenger advisory issued at 7:20 am, said inclement weather was expected around the airport but that flight operations were then normal. It urged passengers to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight information, with airport teams coordinating with stakeholders to minimise disruption.
The situation followed a far more disruptive Monday, when 26 flights were cancelled, 15 Delhi-bound flights were diverted and more than 390 services were delayed. Several airlines issued weather-related advisories to passengers. The impact was not limited to Delhi.
Gurugram witnessed extensive waterlogging and traffic congestion, prompting the District Disaster Management Authority to advise corporate offices, government and private schools, and other institutions to work from home or conduct classes online on August 25.
The administration said the step would reduce traffic and allow civic agencies to carry out repair and maintenance work on roads and drains. Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh also urged residents to cooperate and plan their travel accordingly.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For Delhi-NCR residents, another spell of intense rainfall is not simply a weather event; it is a test of how safely and effectively a rapidly growing urban region can respond to extreme weather. The recent scenes of commuters wading through flooded roads, schoolchildren struggling through waterlogged stretches and vehicles stuck in traffic underline the human cost when heavy rain meets vulnerable urban infrastructure.
At the same time, the response from authorities in Gurugram to reduce unnecessary travel and enable drainage and road repairs shows why public safety must remain the priority during such conditions. Delhi’s rainfall has also moved above normal at several monitoring stations: by August 24, Safdarjung had recorded 246.2 mm against a normal 191.1 mm, while Ayanagar had recorded 266.3 mm, 66% above normal. gin only after roads are flooded.
