Large parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed heavy rainfall on Friday, leaving roads inundated, disrupting traffic and prompting weather warnings across several states as the monsoon intensified its grip on the country.
Delhi-NCR reels under heavy rain
Several parts of the national capital recorded close to 100 mm of rainfall, resulting in severe waterlogging and traffic snarls during peak morning hours. Key stretches, including the ITO intersection, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road and Rohtak Road, were among the worst affected, with vehicles moving slowly through flooded underpasses and waterlogged streets.
Neighbouring cities such as Noida and Ghaziabad were placed under an orange alert because of persistent rainfall and thunderstorms, while Gurugram and Faridabad remained under a yellow alert. In some areas, companies advised employees to work from home to avoid long traffic delays.
According to the Delhi Fire Service, heavy rainfall has been battering Delhi since morning. The department has received reports of nine house collapses since late last night, along with 16 incidents of trees being uprooted across the city. In one such incident, three women trapped inside a house were safely rescued by firefighters.
The adverse weather conditions also affected air travel. Airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, issued advisories asking passengers travelling to and from Delhi's airport to leave early and monitor the status of their flights.
Kerala flood concerns deepen
Meanwhile, Kerala continued to grapple with a worsening flood situation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for the districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Authorities are closely monitoring rising water levels in rivers and reservoirs amid concerns over possible landslides and flooding.
Eastern states on alert
In eastern India, Odisha and West Bengal have also been placed on high alert as an active cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is expected to trigger intense rainfall and strong winds over the next two days.
Authorities have urged people to avoid flooded roads, stay away from swollen rivers and check travel updates before leaving their homes.
