New Delhi faced significant disruptions on Tuesday as light to moderate rainfall swept across various parts of the city, leading to considerable traffic congestion and waterlogging, particularly in the western and northern regions. According to data from the Safdarjung weather station, which is a key indicator of Delhi’s weather patterns, the city received 5.6mm of rain between 8.30am and 5.30pm. In contrast, the Palam weather station recorded 10.5mm, the Ridge station noted 2mm, while the Ayanagar and Lodhi Road stations recorded 1.8mm and 1mm respectively. The highest recorded rainfall was at the Pitampura station with 27mm during the same period.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting continued rainfall and gusty winds reaching up to 30 km/h through Friday. This warning comes in response to a convergence of meteorological phenomena, including a depression over central India, a developing western disturbance, and an active monsoon trough. These conditions are expected to deliver further significant rainfall across Delhi-NCR over the coming days.
In light of the severe weather, the Delhi Traffic Police have issued advisories for motorists to avoid specific road stretches, including Najafgarh Phirni Road, GT Karnal Road, Dabri roundabout, and the Outer Ring Road from Peeragarhi to Vikaspuri. The impact on traffic has been notable, with commuters reporting slow-moving traffic in southern and southwestern areas of the city. For instance, Amarjot Singh, a commuter travelling from Mehrauli to IIT-Delhi, experienced severe delays, with travel times stretching to 30 minutes for a journey of just three kilometres.
In terms of precipitation statistics, the Safdarjung station logged only a “trace” of rainfall in the 24 hours preceding 8.30am on Tuesday, while other stations, such as Ridge and DU, reported 22.6mm and 22.5mm respectively. September has thus far recorded 79.5mm of rainfall, approaching the long-term average of 123.4mm, with expectations that it may surpass 100mm by week’s end. Delhi’s weather has also affected the city’s air quality index (AQI), which remained in the “moderate” category with a reading of 106 on Tuesday, a slight improvement from Monday’s reading of 117.
