Record-Breaking Rainfall Disrupts Life in Delhi and NCR

Severe Rainfall Hits Delhi and NCR

On Friday, the national capital, Delhi, along with the NCR regions, experienced torrential rain that shattered a 15-year record. The heavy downpour led to significant flooding and severe traffic congestion, causing widespread disruption to daily life. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a decrease in rainfall intensity is anticipated starting Saturday, although light to moderate rain is expected to continue until August 10.

The weather department reported that Delhi recorded 127 mm of rain in the first seven days of August, marking the highest rainfall for this period since 2011. This intense rainfall was attributed to a low-pressure area over southwestern Uttar Pradesh and a western disturbance.

Rainfall Forecast and Alerts

The IMD indicated that while the intensity of rain will lessen on Saturday, the rainy spell is likely to persist until August 10. An official from the IMD noted that the extensive rainfall in Delhi is due to the active monsoon trough, which stretches from Delhi through northern and eastern India to the eastern-central Bay of Bengal. Rainfall activity in Delhi is expected to diminish from Saturday, with light rain possible over the next two days.

Alert for 14 Other States - Work From Home in Gurugram

The weather department has issued alerts for 14 additional states, urging residents to remain cautious. Similar to Delhi, Rajasthan is also expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall until August 10, with moderate to heavy rain anticipated in Bharatpur, Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer, and Udaipur divisions.

In Gurugram, Haryana, a 'Work From Home' advisory has been issued, and residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel following a red alert. An orange alert has also been issued for Himachal Pradesh until August 11, indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall. Rainfall is expected to continue in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab.

In the southern regions, the weather department has issued a red alert for four districts in Kerala - Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode - predicting very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rain is also forecasted for Odisha, eastern Madhya Pradesh, and parts of southern Karnataka.

Additionally, on Saturday, heavy rainfall is expected in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, the Gangetic plains of West Bengal, Haryana, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, central Maharashtra, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.