Torrential monsoon showers on Monday unleashed widespread chaos across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), leading to severe waterlogging, massive traffic jams, and disruptions to air travel. Key areas in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, and Faridabad reported significant inundation, prompting weather authorities to issue red and orange alerts for the region.
Widespread Inundation and Commuter Struggles
Commuters faced immense difficulties as numerous roads transformed into rivers. In Delhi, ITO Chowk experienced severe congestion, while areas such as Munirka, Badarpur, Aerocity, Burari, CR Park, Alaknanda, and the vicinity of New Ashok Nagar Metro Station were heavily waterlogged. Visuals from Sangam Vihar showed students wading through knee-deep water, and at the Zakhira underpass, people navigated waist-deep water, with a mini-truck stranded and two-wheelers being dragged through the flooded stretch.
The situation was equally grim in Gurgaon, where vehicles crawled along submerged sections of the Delhi-Jaipur Highway and National Highway 48. Sikanderpur Ghosi, Noida, and Faridabad also reported extensive waterlogging and traffic snarls, bringing daily life to a grinding halt for many.
Flight Operations Affected
The adverse weather conditions significantly impacted operations at Delhi Airport. A total of 15 Delhi-bound flights, including two international services, were forced to divert. Eleven of these diverted flights were redirected to Jaipur, adding to travel woes for passengers.
Rainfall Data and Political Reactions
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chhatarpur recorded the highest rainfall in Delhi between 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM, receiving 28 mm of rain. Lodi Road followed with 24.6 mm, and Pitampura registered 18.5 mm during the same period. The IMD had previously warned of heavy to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and winds up to 40 kmph across the region.
The severe waterlogging also sparked political exchanges. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized the BJP-led Delhi government, specifically Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, over the situation in Sadar Bazar. Bharadwaj highlighted how rainwater had reportedly entered shops, damaging goods and leaving shopkeepers helpless. He stated, “Ever since the ‘four-engine government’ was formed, the entirety of Delhi has been suffering from severe waterlogging.” Bharadwaj further questioned the administration's claims of drain cleaning, urging them to address the crisis.