New Delhi: Heavy rain and strong winds battered Delhi-NCR on Monday, disrupting air travel and bringing traffic to a crawl across several parts of the region.
As monsoon activity intensified, 15 flights, including three international services, were diverted from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Of these, 12 were diverted to Jaipur, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow.
According to FlightRadar24 data, around 262 flights were affected or delayed, with the average delay at Delhi airport standing at nearly 32 minutes.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain across Delhi-NCR and neighbouring regions. Orange alerts have been issued for Gurugram and Faridabad, where heavy rainfall is expected.
The downpour led to severe waterlogging in several parts of the NCR.
In Gurugram, nearly two feet of water accumulated on the service road near Islampur village along Sohna Road, disrupting traffic and triggering a jam stretching nearly 4 km.
Vehicles were seen moving slowly through the waterlogged stretch as commuters struggled to make their way through the area.
Delhi also witnessed widespread traffic disruption, with heavy congestion reported on MB Road near Sangam Vihar.
Traffic moved particularly slowly between Vayusenabad and Sangam Vihar, with commuters reporting being stuck for close to an hour. The congestion affected people travelling towards Delhi airport, offices and Saket Court.
Several commuters said heavy rain routinely worsens traffic conditions in the area.
A passenger travelling towards Delhi airport said he had already been stuck for around 30 minutes and was worried about missing his 1 pm flight. Another commuter reported being stranded for nearly an hour.
Heavy rain was also reported across Noida, including Sectors 16, 39 and 95.
In Ghaziabad, waterlogging near the Industrial Area underpass on NH-9 caused further trouble for motorists. Cars and two-wheelers struggled to cross the flooded stretch, while some drivers parked their vehicles along the roadside waiting for the water level to fall.
Pedestrians were also seen taking shelter under the underpass and nearby covered areas to escape the rain.
The IMD has forecast continued monsoon activity over Delhi-NCR and several other parts of the country.
Heavy rainfall is also expected in parts of Uttarakhand, Odisha and Telangana.
With more rain likely in the coming days, waterlogging and traffic disruptions could persist, particularly in low-lying areas.
While the showers have brought much-needed relief from Delhi-NCR's heat and humidity, the disruption to flights and road traffic has once again exposed the region's vulnerability to heavy monsoon spells.
