As wind speeds touched 79 kmph, heavy rains and hailstorm lashed the Capital region, causing widespread disruptions in transport, power, and public safety.
New Delhi, May 21, 2025 – A powerful pre-monsoon storm accompanied by heavy rain and gusty winds wreaked havoc across Delhi and Noida on Wednesday evening. While the showers offered relief from sweltering heat, the high-impact weather system caused power outages, traffic jams, Metro delays, and tragically, one fatality.
Fatal Incident Amid Storm
A man died near the Lodhi Road flyover after an electric pole fell on him during the storm. He was reportedly crossing the area when the pole, dislodged by fierce winds, collapsed.
Peak Wind Speeds & Visual Chaos
- Wind speeds hit 79 kmph at Safdarjung, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- A hailstorm was recorded in the Lodi Road area, with visuals showing trees swaying violently and streets turning into obstacle courses of debris.
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In Noida, a large “Welcome to Noida” board on the Greater Noida Expressway was toppled. Another road sign crashed onto parked motorcycles, causing property damage.
Waterlogging and Traffic Disruptions
- Major waterlogging was reported at:
- Akshardham Flyover
- Tilak Bridge near ITO
- Sikandra Road
- Vikas Marg near Laxmi Nagar, where a billboard collapsed
These incidents caused massive traffic snarls across arterial roads, with emergency services deployed in several localities to clear fallen trees and signage.
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Metro and Air Travel Impacted
- Delhi Metro operations were delayed as external debris fell on tracks in some locations.
- At Delhi Airport, multiple airlines including Air India and IndiGo issued flight advisories, asking passengers to check updated schedules due to possible delays and diversions.
Mid-Air Scare
I had a narrow escape while flying from Delhi to Srinagar. Flight number #6E2142. Hats off to the captain for the safe landing.@IndiGo6E pic.twitter.com/tNEKwGOT4q
— Sheikh Samiullah (@_iamsamiullah) May 21, 2025
A video shared by Sheikh Samiullah, a passenger aboard IndiGo flight 6E2142 from Delhi to Srinagar, showed violent turbulence inside the aircraft during the storm. The plane later landed safely, though its nose was damaged in the hailstorm.
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Passenger Advisory issued at 20:29 Hours#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory #BadWeather pic.twitter.com/WrQYP42x6b
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 21, 2025
What Caused the Storm?
According to IMD, the severe weather was triggered by:
- A cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjoining areas
- An east-west trough extending from Punjab to Bangladesh
- Moisture inflow from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
Heat Preceded the Storm
Before the downpour, Delhi recorded a heat index of 50.2°C, with an actual maximum temperature of 40.7°C, 0.5°C above the seasonal norm. Humidity levels fluctuated between 64% and 34%, creating oppressive conditions before the storm offered relief—albeit violently.
Conclusion
While the storm has helped cool the national capital, it has also exposed the fragility of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious as weather instability may persist in the coming days.
Tags:
Delhi Storm, Noida Rain, Delhi Weather, Power Cuts Delhi, Metro Delay, Safdarjung Wind Speed, IMD Delhi, Lodhi Road Storm, Flight Disruption Delhi, Hailstorm Noida