The national capital was battered by relentless overnight rain that began around 11 p.m. on Friday and continued well into Saturday morning, leaving large swathes of the city waterlogged and traffic crawling at a snail’s pace. Commuters faced a harrowing start to their weekend as heavy showers inundated several arterial roads, triggering massive congestion during the early hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, warning residents of continued heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms throughout the day. The alert covers multiple districts, including North, West, South, South-East, and Central Delhi, raising concerns about potential flooding and further traffic disruptions.

Key stretches across the city, such as Panchkuian Marg, Mathura Road, and the busy corridors near Shastri Bhawan, RK Puram, Moti Bagh, and Kidwai Nagar, were submerged under knee-deep water. Motorists waded through flooded roads, with many vehicles stalled in the middle of traffic, forcing passengers to navigate on foot in ankle-to-calf-deep water.

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The heavy downpour has not only slowed traffic but also disrupted public transportation. Bus routes have been diverted in some parts of the city due to submerged underpasses, and the increased demand for auto-rickshaws and cabs has pushed wait times and fares higher than usual. Metro services, though running on schedule, reported an unusual spike in passenger load as people sought alternatives to road travel.

The IMD has cautioned that the weather pattern is likely to persist for several hours, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay updated on traffic advisories. Civic authorities have deployed water pumps in some of the worst-hit locations, but with the rain showing no signs of letting up, clearing the accumulated water is expected to be a prolonged challenge.

For many in Delhi, this weekend is shaping up to be a wet and weary one, as the city braces for another day under dark, rain-laden skies.

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