Rain forecast for two more days; expect waterlogging, traffic jams on Monday

Heavy rain is expected early morning which could trigger traffic jams.

The meteorological department has issued an ‘orange alert’ for parts of western Uttar Pradesh and asked residents in Noida and Ghaziabad to be cautious as heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur till Tuesday.

Motorists wading through a waterlogged street following heavy rain in Noida on Saturday. (PTI)

According to officials from the meteorological department, heavy rain may persist for the next few days in parts of the NCR; daily updates will be provided regarding the situation.

“The NCR’s major concern will be traffic, as the weekdays will see congestion during peak hours. Heavy rain is likely during the early morning hours. People should avoid traffic and not panic in waterlogged areas,” Kuldeep Srivastava, director, regional weather forecasting centre, India Meteorological Department, New Delhi, said.

The maximum temperature on Sunday was 28 degrees Celsius (six degrees lower than normal), while the minimum was one degree lower than normal at 26 degrees Celsius. The meteorological department has predicted generally cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rain for the entire week ahead. The average rainfall received in Noida and Ghaziabad was around 24.6mm on Sunday, though heavy rain was restricted to the morning hours.

Incessant rain through Sunday morning left many areas waterlogged, including several sectors and the DND loop near Mahamaya Flyover. Pedestrians faced trouble as roadsides were filled with water, especially in areas such as sectors 19, 18, 27, 35, 62, 63, and roads around Dadri, Bhangel, Haldoni, Gijhore and Kulesara.

However, traffic jams were prevented as people decided to stay home during the weekend. The lowered temperature and cool winds throughout the day made Sunday pleasant for residents. No major electricity fault was reported after about an hour-long power cut around 9am.

“While morning rain usually spells trouble as traffic jams delay work, today was good as the family could enjoy it at home,” Saumya Singh, a resident of Sector 77, said.

However, Monday morning traffic is weighing on residents’ minds as they gear up for the start of the week with predictions of a heavy downpour.

“The rain was so heavy that not much was visible in the morning. I had to drive really slowly to avoid getting hit. If this continues on Monday, the traffic will be unbearable,” Aahna Sharma, a regular commuter from Noida, said.