Delhi NCR Rain Triggers Gurugram Floods As Yamuna Crosses Danger
Relentless monsoon showers left Delhi-NCR grappling with severe disruptions on Tuesday, as heavy rain paralysed Gurugram and triggered fresh flood warnings in the capital. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram after overnight downpours submerged arterial roads, brought traffic to a halt, and forced widespread closure of schools and offices.
Gurugram was among the worst affected, with major intersections like Hero Honda Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, and Sohna Road reporting knee-deep water on Monday night. Long queues of stranded vehicles stretched for nearly seven kilometres, leaving commuters trapped until the early hours of Tuesday. Officials deployed pumps and emergency machinery through the night to clear waterlogging, which allowed gradual recovery on some routes, but large sections of the city remained waterlogged.
The IMD has cautioned that rainfall will remain heavy across the region in the coming days, keeping much of Delhi-NCR on high alert. With schools and corporate offices advised to function online, the Gurugram District Disaster Management Authority said the shutdown was necessary to ensure safety and prevent further congestion on waterlogged roads.Meanwhile, the Yamuna River crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres early Tuesday, touching 205.80 metres at Loha Pul. Drone visuals captured the swollen river surging against embankments, raising fears of fresh flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities ordered traffic suspension on the Old Railway Bridge as precautionary evacuations began. Experts warned that persistent rainfall upstream could worsen conditions, mirroring the city’s flooding crisis earlier this monsoon.
Flight operations at Delhi’s airport were also affected as visibility dropped to 800 metres during Monday’s downpour. Airlines issued advisories urging passengers to allow extra travel time and verify flight schedules before heading to the airport. The ripple effects of the weather extended beyond the capital. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, a red alert was issued for flash floods, while Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir remained under an orange warning. Pilgrims were also impacted, with the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra suspended for the eighth consecutive day due to relentless rain and landslides in the region.
Urban planners argue that the scenes unfolding in Delhi-NCR underscore an urgent need to build flood-resilient infrastructure, invest in sustainable drainage systems, and prioritise climate-adaptive urban design. Experts note that rapid concretisation, poor groundwater recharge, and inadequate stormwater management have amplified the impact of heavy rain, turning every downpour into a civic crisis.As the city braces for more showers, residents in flood-prone zones are being urged to remain vigilant. The coming days will test not just emergency response systems but also the region’s long-term readiness to adapt to intensifying climate extremes.
