Delhi Rain Havoc: Red Alert Issued as Flooded Roads, Traffic Gridlock and Building Collapse Disrupt Normal Life
Torrential overnight rain brought large parts of Delhi to a standstill on Thursday, inundating roads, disrupting traffic movement and causing widespread civic problems across the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed Delhi under a Red Alert, forecasting more intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning during the day.
The continuous downpour overwhelmed the city's drainage network, leaving several low-lying areas submerged and forcing commuters to navigate waterlogged roads during the morning rush hour. Visuals from different parts of Delhi showed vehicles moving slowly through flooded streets while pedestrians struggled through knee-deep water. Several trees were uprooted due to strong winds, creating additional obstacles and affecting traffic on key routes.
The most serious incident occurred in Rohini, where a four-storey building that was under construction collapsed during the heavy rain. The accident claimed three lives, prompting emergency teams to launch rescue and relief operations at the site.
According to the IMD, the Safdarjung weather station recorded 72.6 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Thursday. Other parts of the city also received significant rainfall, with Lodhi Road recording 80.2 mm, Ridge 77.8 mm, Palam 63 mm, and Ayanagar 57.4 mm, highlighting the widespread impact of the weather system.
Waterlogging affected numerous neighbourhoods across Delhi, including Sadar Bazar, Greater Kailash, Badarpur, Nasirpur, Teliwara, Mahavir Bazar, Swarup Nagar, Kushak Road, Munirka, Dwarka, Vikas Marg, East Delhi and areas around the New Delhi Railway Station, where normal movement was severely affected.
Traffic congestion intensified across several arterial roads as reduced visibility and standing water slowed vehicular movement. Civic agencies received multiple complaints related to flooding, fallen trees and rain-induced disruptions, while emergency teams were deployed to clear roads and restore normal services.
The IMD has advised residents to remain cautious as the Red Alert remains in effect, warning that additional spells of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning could further disrupt daily life. Authorities have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rain and follow official weather advisories until conditions improve.
