Heavy Rain Disrupts Delhi Airport Operations, 15 Flights Diverted

Heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupted normal life in Delhi on Monday, affecting flight operations at the city's airport and causing traffic congestion across several parts of the National Capital Region. A total of 15 flights, including three international services, were diverted from Delhi airport because of adverse weather conditions. Of these, 12 flights were diverted to Jaipur, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alerts for several parts of Delhi, warning of heavy and moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph. Heavy rain was forecast at isolated places across areas including South East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahdara, Central Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi and other parts of the capital. Moderate rain was also expected at several locations, with similar weather conditions likely to continue in the coming days.

Airlines issued advisories warning passengers that the weather could affect both scheduled and connecting flights. Air India cautioned that adverse weather could impact operations to and from Delhi, while IndiGo said bad weather had affected flight schedules and that it was monitoring the situation. SpiceJet also warned that departures, arrivals and consequential flights could be affected, asking passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport. Akasa Air similarly reported disruptions across parts of its network.

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The downpour also affected road traffic, with waterlogging and congestion reported from several areas of Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. Office-goers travelling between Delhi and Noida faced significant delays as traffic slowed on major routes. Some commuters reported journeys taking around one to one-and-a-half hours, nearly twice their usual travel time. Waterlogging was also reported in parts of the city, including a parking area in Connaught Place.

The rain was associated with an active monsoon trough, a low-pressure area over Uttar Pradesh and moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal. These weather systems have contributed to persistent cloud cover and rainfall across Delhi and neighbouring areas, while also bringing some relief from humid conditions. Scattered spells of heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds were expected in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and nearby regions.

Despite the disruption, the rainfall also brought an improvement in Delhi's air quality. Monitoring stations recorded the Air Quality Index at generally moderate levels at several locations, including Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Chandni Chowk and Mathura Road. Authorities and airlines continued to monitor weather conditions, while commuters and air passengers were advised to allow additional travel time and check for updates before beginning their journeys.

Also Read: South Bengal To Receive Heavy Rain Till Tuesday, Met Office Forecasts