Relentless showers paralysed Delhi and the wider National Capital Region on Friday, triggering chaos across road, rail and air travel, as waterlogging and flooding brought the city to a crawl.
By afternoon, at least 252 flights had been delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to Flightradar24, with 209 departures and 43 arrivals hit. The disruption came as passengers battled severe traffic congestion on key arterial stretches, with vehicles stranded for hours in long queues from Badarpur to Ashram.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued yellow and orange alerts for most parts of Delhi, forecasting moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, while Noida and Ghaziabad were placed under a red alert for “extremely to very heavy” showers. The Met Centre in Lucknow warned of intense conditions for Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, though Gurugram and Faridabad escaped any warnings.
IndiGo airlines issued a travel advisory to passengers flying out of Delhi, urging them to allow extra time. “The skies over Delhi are bringing in some light showers today.
Also read: Delhi rains: Yellow alert issued, airlines warn of flight delays
While there is no major impact on roads yet, travel may be slower in a few areas. If you are on your way to the airport, please plan ahead and check your flight details in advance using our app or website. Our airport teams are here to support you at all times,” the airline said on X.
Across the city, waterlogging was reported at Pragati Maidan, Defence Colony and Preet Vihar, leaving school buses and office commuters stranded in long jams. “Significant delays were recorded across major corridors,” a senior traffic police official confirmed, adding that diversions were placed where possible.
Beyond the capital, the IMD forecast extended the warning to several states, including heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir until September 1. District-wise nowcasts for the next two to three hours covered multiple states under red and orange alerts, with Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand bracing for the worst.
Delhiites, caught between flooded roads, delayed trains and grounded flights, endured yet another monsoon day of disruption with little relief in sight.
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