Delhi-NCR residents struggled to get to work as heavy morning showers turned roads into rivers, causing massive traffic jams and widespread waterlogging, while Mumbai also came under the grip of intense monsoon showers, forcing authorities to shut subways and issue fresh warnings. With the weather department issuing orange alerts for both regions, residents are bracing for continued disruption as the monsoon shows its force across key Indian cities.
The downpour early Wednesday morning in Delhi and its surrounding NCR areas followed a short but intense rain spell on Tuesday, which had already left many roads waterlogged and traffic movement severely affected. Visuals from across Delhi showed relentless showers pounding the streets as people prepared to leave for work, with water collecting on roads and vehicles inching through waterlogged stretches.
Orange Alert Issued Amid Rising Rainfall
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Delhi on Wednesday, warning residents to be prepared for more rainfall throughout the day. This alert came even as the IMD had earlier forecasted light to moderate rain, with Wednesday’s showers quickly escalating into heavier spells in many parts of the city, adding to the commuting woes during the busy morning rush.
The IMD categorizes rainfall as “light” up to 15.5mm, “moderate” between 15.6mm to 64.4mm, and “heavy” when it exceeds 64.4mm in a 24-hour window. On Tuesday, Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 8.8mm of rain between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM, while Ridge in north Delhi logged 22.4mm during the same period. Other areas recorded significant rainfall as well, with Rajghat receiving 22.2mm, Lodhi Road 14.2mm, Najafgarh 11mm, Pusa 13.5mm, Ayanagar 1.5mm, and Palam 0.5mm. So far this July, Delhi has recorded 136.3mm of rainfall, lower than the monthly average of 209.7mm, indicating that while rainfall has been regular, heavy spells had largely been absent until now.
Tuesday’s rain caused major disruptions in the city, with traffic jams reported on Press Enclave Road and Anuvrat Marg near the Qutub Minar metro station, where congestion persisted until noon due to waterlogged streets and slow-moving traffic.
Mumbai Also Battles Heavy Showers, Roads Flooded
While Delhi and NCR grappled with heavy rain and its aftermath, Mumbai and its surrounding regions also came under the intense grip of monsoon showers. The IMD issued an orange alert for several districts in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Palghar, signaling the possibility of heavy rainfall and advising residents to remain cautious.
The continuous downpour in Mumbai led to severe waterlogging in various parts of the city, forcing the Mumbai Traffic Police to shut the Andheri Subway as a precautionary measure. The heavy rain added to the challenges of daily commuters and posed significant disruptions in normal life, with visuals from across the city showing submerged roads and slow-moving traffic amid heavy rain showers.
The monsoon season in Mumbai typically brings heavy showers, and this year has been no different, with periodic intense rainfall disrupting traffic and daily routines across the city and surrounding districts.
As monsoon intensifies in both Delhi and Mumbai, residents are preparing for further rainfall in the coming days, with authorities urging people to remain cautious while stepping out during heavy showers. The IMD’s orange alerts for both regions underline the seriousness of the situation, as waterlogging, traffic jams, and transport disruptions continue to affect daily life in India’s key metropolitan cities.
