Delhi Rains Wreak Havoc: Over 100 flights delayed, roads flooded as NCR hit by pre-dawn downpour, strong winds

Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds lashed Delhi and adjoining areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) early Friday, leading to widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and flight disruptions at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The downpour, which was forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), brought much-needed relief from the heat but also paralysed normal life in parts of the city.

The IMD has predicted thunderstorms and intermittent rainfall to continue over the next few days, keeping mercury levels below the 40-degree Celsius mark.

Visuals from Gurugram and Khanpur showed vehicles struggling to pass through waterlogged streets, with some areas submerged in knee-deep water. Strong winds accompanied the early morning showers, further aggravating the situation.

Flight operations were significantly impacted at Delhi airport, with over 100 flights delayed and at least three diverted — two to Jaipur and one to Ahmedabad — according to data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com.

"Due to inclement weather conditions and thunderstorms in Delhi, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport. Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience," said Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) in an advisory issued at 5.20 am on X (formerly Twitter).

In another update posted at 7.25 am, DIAL said the thunderstorm had passed but residual disruptions to flight operations continued.

Air India also reported delays and diversions in its services, cautioning passengers of schedule changes. “Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimise disruptions,” the airline said in a post.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport, which handles about 1,300 flight movements daily, remains on alert as authorities continue to monitor weather conditions and coordinate with airlines to minimise inconvenience to passengers.

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