Heavy monsoon rains once again disrupted life across several Indian cities on Friday, with Delhi, Jaipur, and parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh witnessing severe flooding, landslides, and broken road connections.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple weather alerts as conditions worsen in the region.
Streets flooded in Delhi, Jaipur
Relentless downpours turned major roads in New Delhi and Jaipur into ponds, bringing traffic to a standstill. In the national capital, waterlogging stretched across key routes, including DND Flyway, Mathura Road, Vikas Marg, and ISBT, where water levels rose as high as four feet in some areas.
Commuters, school children, and office-goers were stranded for hours, while the Delhi Traffic Police deployed teams at major intersections to ease congestion. “Traffic movement has slowed down considerably due to waterlogging in multiple pockets. Our teams are on ground to ease flow and support commuters during this difficult time,” a senior officer said.
IMD alerts and flight disruptions
The IMD upgraded its weather warning, placing Noida and Ghaziabad under a red alert, signaling extremely heavy rainfall and potential flood risks. Several parts of Delhi, including southeast, central Delhi, and Shahdara, remain under an orange alert for moderate to heavy showers.
The downpour also disrupted air travel. At Delhi Airport, more than 140 flights were delayed by late morning, with airlines like IndiGo advising passengers to check schedules and plan ahead. In a public advisory, IndiGo stated: “The skies over Delhi are bringing some heavy showers today. Please allow extra travel time and check flight details before heading to the airport.”
Northern states hit hard
Flooding and landslides have also wreaked havoc in northern states. In Uttarakhand, connecting roads leading to popular tourist and religious destinations were washed away, isolating several communities. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh reported multiple landslides, severing the road link between Manali and Leh.
In Jammu’s Doda district, the water level of the Chenab River has started to recede slightly, but authorities remain on high alert due to the continued risk of flooding.
Residents struggle amid relief efforts
Beyond traffic chaos, residents in low-lying areas of Delhi faced severe flooding inside homes and shops. Power outages and disruptions in public transport further compounded daily struggles. Emergency services remain on standby as authorities urge citizens to avoid non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Meteorologists predict intermittent rainfall in the coming days, which could help ease the region’s scorching summer heat but may also worsen the flood situation in vulnerable areas.
