Heavy downpour, strong winds cause chaos in Delhi and NCR, delaying flights and submerging roads in key areas.
May 25, 2025: Heavy rainfall early Sunday morning led to severe waterlogging across Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), causing significant disruption to daily life and air travel. The downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds of up to 60 km/hour, created a chaotic scene in the national capital, with temperatures dipping to 21.2 degrees Celsius.
Also Read: India Weather Alert: Goa on Red, Mumbai & Delhi Brace for Heavy Rain as Monsoon Looms
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Delhi and surrounding areas on Saturday, cautioning residents about intense thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. “A thunderstorm cell is approaching Delhi and adjoining areas from the west/northwest,” the IMD warned in its “Nowcast” advisory.
Waterlogging Brings City to a Standstill
Visuals from various parts of Delhi depicted roads resembling rivers, with water levels rising high enough to submerge smaller vehicles. In Minto Road, a car was almost fully underwater, highlighting the city’s ongoing drainage issues. Near Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport, roads turned into water channels, hampering travel for passengers and staff. Moti Bagh and Dhaula Kuan also experienced major traffic slowdowns as the waterlogged streets forced commuters to crawl through the early hours of Sunday.
#WATCH | Severe waterlogging witnessed in parts of Delhi following heavy rainfall
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2025
(Visuals from near Delhi Airport Terminal 1) pic.twitter.com/qLirfoXhRw
Parts of Haryana, including Jhajjar and Karnal, also reported thunderstorms and strong winds.
#WATCH | A car submerged as heavy rainfall causes severe waterlogging in parts of Delhi.
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2025
(Visuals from Minto Road) pic.twitter.com/HmRv09CEpV
Flight Operations Affected
The deluge disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). According to data from Flightradar24.com, several flights were delayed, and a few departures were cancelled due to low visibility and wet runways, causing temporary airside congestion. The average delay for outbound flights exceeded 30 minutes.
#WATCH दिल्ली: राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में भारी बारिश के कारण कई इलाकों में जलभराव हुआ। जलभराव के कारण यातायात प्रभावित हुआ।
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) May 25, 2025
(वीडियो धौला कुआं इलाके से है) pic.twitter.com/ykYWijsv4x
IndiGo Airlines posted an update at 3:59 a.m. on X (formerly Twitter), citing “adverse weather conditions” that led to temporary disruptions. By 5:54 a.m., the airline confirmed that operations had resumed as weather conditions improved.
Monsoon Arrives Early
The IMD also confirmed that the southwest monsoon had reached Kerala on Saturday, marking its earliest arrival since 2009. The monsoon has extended to parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, the Bay of Bengal, and the northeast.
Power Outages and Damage
This spell of rain followed similar weather disruptions last week, which saw power outages in areas including Bawana, Narela, Jahangirpuri, Civil Lines, and Burari after a dust storm and rainfall.
As the city recovers from the weekend’s lashing rain, attention is turning to repair and relief efforts in the most affected areas.
Tags:
Delhi rain, Delhi waterlogging, IGI Airport disruptions, Delhi NCR weather, heavy rainfall Delhi, Delhi thunderstorms, IMD weather alert, southwest monsoon India