IMD issues red alert for Delhi as heavy rain triggers waterlogging, traffic snarls

Heavy rain battered Delhi on Friday, leaving several areas waterlogged and disrupting traffic across major roads as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the national capital.

The weather department forecast moderate rainfall across several parts of Delhi, with isolated areas likely to receive heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over the next few hours.

The downpour caused severe traffic congestion across several arterial roads and intersections during the morning hours.

Heavy traffic was reported on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, around ITO, Wazirabad Road, Patel Road, Rohtak Road and Shankar Road, as well as stretches around Kirti Nagar, Peeragarhi and Shaheen Bagh. Traffic movement was also affected on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway.

Parts of East Delhi faced similar disruption, with congestion reported along GT Road and around GTB Enclave and Dilshad Garden.

Waterlogging compounded commuters' difficulties, with social media users reporting inundation in areas including Dakshinpuri, Okhla, Sangam Vihar and Sainik Farms, as well as sections of Mehrauli-Badarpur Road.

Several weather stations across the capital recorded substantial rainfall by Friday morning.

According to the IMD, Lodhi Road received 60.4 mm of rain until 8.30 am, while Safdarjung recorded 59.2 mm. The Ridge station registered 57 mm during the same period.

Rainfall was relatively lower at Ayanagar and Palam, which recorded 26.2 mm and 16.9 mm, respectively.

The wet spell is expected to continue, with the IMD forecasting light to moderate rainfall across Delhi until 10 August.

With PTI inputs