Heavy rain lashes parts of Delhi; waterlogging prompts traffic advisory

The rain in the national Capital disrupted traffic at Najafgarh Phirni Road, Kashmere Gate, ISBT, Ashram, and ITO due to localised inundation

Heavy rain lashed parts of the Capital on Tuesday morning and led to waterlogging prompting the Delhi Police to issue an advisory asking commuters to avoid stretches such as Nigambodh Ghat, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Mangi Bridge, and Rohtak Road even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said more rain was expected during the day.

The IMD has said scattered light rain will continue throughout this week. (PTI)

The Delhi Traffic Police barricaded Minto Bridge after it was waterlogged and diverted traffic via DDU Marg and Outer Circle of Connaught Place.

The IMD said some areas received scattered light rain. Parts of north, southwest, west, central, and southeast Delhi got moderate to intense rain. North Delhi’s Ridge Station received the highest – 72.4mm – rainfall between 5:30 am and 8:30 am. West Delhi’s Pitampura logged 57 mm, Delhi University 45mm, Mayur Vihar 39mm, Najafgarh 35mm, and Lodhi Road 25.6mm.

Safdarjung, representative of Delhi’s weather, recorded 28.7mm over three hours. “Localized activity is likely across the city even during the day with several places accumulating light rainfall,” said an IMD official.

The intense rain in parts of the city was due to the monsoon trough passing over Delhi. “Southwesterly winds are currently feeding moisture from the Arabian Sea into the monsoon trough which is passing through Delhi. Also, we have cold, dry air associated with a localised feeble western disturbance which is interacting with these warm-moist monsoonal winds.”

The rain disrupted traffic at Najafgarh Phirni Road, Kashmere Gate, ISBT, Ashram, and ITO due to localised inundation.

Delhi has received rain on all days of this month barring August 3, making it an unusually wet August. It has so far recorded 240.2mm of rainfall this month, the highest for August since 2013 (321.4mm). The IMD has said scattered light rain will continue throughout this week.