Delhi Experiences Widespread Rain, Disrupting Flights and Traffic

NEW DELHI: The city witnessed its most widespread and intense spell of rain Tuesday since the monsoon arrived on July 2. Waterlogging and uprooted trees led to traffic snarls, while the downpour also disrupted flight operations. Rain activity is likely to continue until Saturday. Several parts of Delhi witnessed heavy-to-moderate showers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. Najafgarh recorded heavy rainfall at 84mm between 8.30am and 5.30pm. Ridge in north Delhi logged 50.1mm, Chhatarpur and Pusa 41.5mm each, Ayanagar in southwest Delhi 32.6mm, Palam 15.4mm, Lodhi Road 13.2mm and Safdarjung, the city’s base station, received 11.9mm of rainfall during the same period. India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies rainfall as light when it is up to 15.5mm, as moderate when it is from 15.6mm to 64.4mm, and as heavy if rainfall crosses 64.4mm in a 24-hour period. One international flight from Oman to Delhi was diverted to Lucknow. According to FlightRadar24, a live tracking website, more than 300 flights were delayed at IGI Airport throughout the day. “The interaction of a western disturbance, trough and weakening of depression, leading to release of moisture, led to widespread rainfall Tuesday. It is likely to continue in the night. Rain activity was also recorded in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh,” said Krishna Mishra, a scientist at IMD. The Met department has placed a yellow alert for light-to-moderate showers Wednesday and Thursday. Though there are chances of light rain Friday and Saturday, no colour-coded warning has been issued. The minimum temperature Tuesday rose to 30 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, making it the warmest July night in two years. A higher minimum temperature was last recorded in July 2024 when it reached 30.4 degrees Celsius on July 31. Last July, the highest minimum temperature was 28.8 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature Monday settled at 27 degrees Celsius. Following the rain, it is likely to dip to 21-23 degrees Celsius Wednesday. The maximum temperature dipped to 37.2 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, against 38.6 degrees Celsius a day earlier. “A fall in the maximum temperature is likely by two-four degrees Celsius during the next three days and rise by three-four degrees Celsius is expected thereafter,” said a Met official. The day temperature is predicted to stay 32-34 degrees Celsius over the next two days. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality deteriorated from satisfactory to moderate Tuesday. The 24-hour average air quality index was 113 as opposed to 94 a day earlier. However, after the intense rain, it is expected to improve to the satisfactory zone again Wednesday.