- Heavy rain and thunderstorms in Delhi disrupted flight operations and caused delays at the city airport
- Airlines including SpiceJet, Air India, IndiGo issued advisories urging passengers to check flight status
- India Meteorological Department issued red and yellow alerts for heavy and moderate rain with strong winds
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Delhi disrupted flight operations on Monday, affecting arrivals and departures at the city airport and triggering delays across connected routes.
A total of 15 flights were diverted from Delhi airport due to adverse weather conditions, including three international flights.
Of these, 12 were diverted to Jaipur, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow.
Notably, intense showers were reported from parts of South Delhi and nearby regions, while the weather office, India Meteorological Department (IMD), issued a red alert for heavy rain and a yellow alert for moderate rain across several districts, with thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph also expected in parts of the city.
Airlines, including SpiceJet, issued advisories warning that consequential flights could also be impacted due to the adverse weather, and urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
Air India issued an advisory, saying, "Adverse weather conditions may impact flight operations to and from Delhi today."
The agency said weather conditions are expected to remain hot and humid after the rain subsides, with similar scattered rainfall events likely over the next two days.
Meanwhile, residents took to social media to report traffic congestion and waterlogging in several parts of the city.
After heavy rain in Ghaziabad, the weather turned pleasant, but the downpour also caused inconvenience for commuters. Traffic slowed significantly, leading to congestion on several roads.
Waterlogging was also reported from multiple parts of the city following the rain.
Many office-goers travelling to Noida from different parts of Delhi faced long delays as heavy rain slowed traffic movement across major roads. Several commuters said their usual commute time nearly doubled, with many taking around one to one-and-a-half hours to reach their offices.
Waterlogging was also seen in a parking lot in Connaught Place.
Why Is Delhi Witnessing Rain?
The current spell of rain in Delhi is mainly being attributed to an active monsoon trough, a low-pressure area over Uttar Pradesh, and a continuous flow of moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal.
Under the influence of these weather systems, Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and nearby areas have been witnessing persistent cloud cover and rainfall. The continuous showers have also led to a drop in temperatures, bringing relief from humid conditions.
Air Quality Improves After Rain
Rainfall over the past two days has also improved Delhi's air quality. According to data from monitoring stations, the AQI stood at 97 in Ashok Vihar, 100 in Aya Nagar, 127 in Bawana, 102 in the Cantonment area, 109 in Chandni Chowk, 83 at the Commonwealth Sports Complex, 101 on Mathura Road and 88 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.
