Delhi goes underwater: Hundreds of vehicles breakdown, thousands stuck in traffic, IGI airport roof collapses

NEW DELHI: Heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR on Friday morning, bringing the national capital to a grinding halt. The downpour disrupted the daily life with key roads turning into waterways. According to reports hundreds of vehicles broke down on the city roads, further compounding the misery.

Heavy traffic across Delhi-NCR, thousands stuck
Since early morning, major roads like Anuvrat Marg and Dhaula Kuan flyover have been experiencing heavy congestion, resulting in thousands of vehicles being stuck across the city.
As the water levels rose, commuters found themselves trapped, leading to chaos in various parts of the city.
Noida encountered comparable difficulties. The relentless rainfall caused streets to become waterlogged, hindering commuting. "Visuals from Madhu Vihar showed roads completely submerged, with water reaching the windows of parked cars."

Aurobindo Marg, another crucial route, also faced severe waterlogging. Entire sections of the road were submerged, resulting in significant traffic disruptions and massive jams. Vehicles were immobilized, and pedestrians had to navigate through knee-deep water. The waterlogging stretched from Aurobindo Road to the IIT flyover in south Delhi, impacting vehicle movement.

The authorities, including the Delhi traffic police, are putting in their best efforts to handle the situation. Traffic had to be rerouted from severely affected areas, and advisories were issued advising residents to refrain from unnecessary travel. Despite these measures, the sheer volume of water made it difficult to maintain smooth traffic flow.

Metro services affected
The Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25 Metro station experienced closure of its entry and exit points as a result of intense rainfall. Furthermore, the shuttle service between Delhi Aerocity Metro station and Terminal 1-IGI Airport was temporarily halted.

Passengers encountered significant challenges upon exiting the Saket metro station, as the nearby vicinity was severely inundated with water. Individuals were compelled to wade through the flooded roads in order to arrive at their intended locations.


Flight departures at Delhi airport's T1 suspended till 2pm
A section of the roof at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 caved in early Friday morning, resulting in one fatality and leaving five individuals wounded. The incident, attributed to intense rainfall, occurred at approximately 5am. Consequently, all departing flights from T1 were halted until 2pm.
In response to the situation, the airport authorities are considering a provisional relocation of operations from Terminal 1 to Terminals 2 and 3. Following the roof collapse, the suspension of departures was swiftly implemented. However, passengers who had already entered the terminal were able to proceed with their scheduled flights.

IMD forecast for rain in Delhi
According to the IMD's prediction for June 28, the weather will bring light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures remaining consistent with the previous day. Wind speeds are expected to reach up to 35 km/h.

On June 29, the weather is anticipated to be slightly cooler, with a maximum temperature of 36°C and a minimum of 28°C. "The city will likely experience light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h." June 30 will see a further drop in temperature to 34°C, accompanied by moderate to heavy rain and strong winds.
The IMD's forecast for July 1 and 2 indicates thunderstorms with moderate rain, while temperatures will remain steady at a maximum of 34°C and a minimum of 27°C. Wind speeds will persist in the range of 25-35 km/h throughout this period.