The National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi are battling with strong winds, heavy rain, and dust storms. The sudden change in climate has resulted in significant disruption to daily life. Severe rains have caused further tragic fatalities and widespread travel delays across the capital.
Furthermore, as a precautionary measure the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alerts across the region, This comes as wind speeds reached up to 78 kmph in several parts of the capital.
Four Dead in Dwarka After Tree Falls on Room
Amid the heavy rains, a 26-year-old woman and her three children were killed in Delhi’s Dwarka. The incident occurred in the Dwarka area early Friday morning. This comes after a neem tree, uprooted by strong winds, collapsed onto their makeshift room on farmland.
According to reports, the victims were trapped under debris. Following the discovery they were rushed to RTR Hospital. However, upon arrival all four were declared dead. The woman’s husband sustained minor injuries. Emergency responders, including police and fire brigade teams, were involved in the rescue operation.
Flight Operations Severely Affected at Delhi Airport
In addition to the tragic casualties, heavy storms had a cascading effect on air travel. So far, over 100 flights have been delayed. More than 40 flights were diverted to cities with moderate weather conditions such as Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
Furthermore, airlines like Air India and IndiGo advised passengers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport. According to FlightRadar data, Delhi airport experienced average delays of 21 minutes for arrivals and 61 minutes for departures. All the airlines deployed ground staff to manage the disruption and assist travellers stuck in the delay.
Waterlogging and Traffic Chaos in Several Areas
Reports suggest heavy downpours led to waterlogging in key areas of the city. This includes Lajpat Nagar, Dwarka, Khanpur, RK Puram, Minto Road, and Majnu ka Tilla. The waterlogging has resulted in major traffic disruptions.
This has caused significant inconvenience to the daily commuters travelling during the morning rush hour. Amid the chaos Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited some of the affected regions to monitor the situation on ground.
IMD Issues Red and Orange Alerts
The India Meteorological Department Initially issued a red alert. However, it later downgraded the warning to orange as the heavy storms progressed westward. According to the IMD data the wind speeds peaked at 78 kmph in Pragati Maidan. Other areas like Lodhi Road, Pitampura, Najafgarh, and IGNOU also recorded gusts above 50 kmph. The weather department has urged residents to stay indoors, avoid travelling, and take precautions against falling trees and live wires.
IMD predicts rainfall
The IMD further predicted continued rainfall and thunderstorms in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. Delhi recorded a temperature of 19.8°C amid the storm. However the rainfall brought temporary relief from the scorching summer heat.
Similar weather conditions were reported from other parts of India. Odisha faced severe thunderstorms and nor’wester winds (Kalbaisakhi), leading to damage at Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s residence.
Furthermore, lightning and gusty winds were forecast in parts of Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. The IMD warned of potential damage to huts, crops, and power lines and advised people to seek shelter in stable structures.
