4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Sep 5, 2026 07:47 AM IST
A senior airport functionary said the waterlogging situation at the IGI Airport had been controlled and was temporary. (Screenshot from ANI video/ Enhanced with AI)
Heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR on Friday, causing waterlogging and traffic snarls and disrupting operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport, where 11 flights were diverted between 3.30 pm and 5 pm due to bad weather.
Five flights were diverted to Jaipur, four to Lucknow, one to Ahmedabad and one to Chandigarh. Waterlogging was reported outside the airport, including near Terminal 3 and the underpass connecting the airport with Vasant Kunj in the Capital.
As of 5.30 pm, Palam recorded the highest rainfall in Delhi at 75.6 mm, followed by Naraina (54 mm), Janakpuri (48.5 mm), Lodhi Road (34.6 mm) and Safdarjung (32.6 mm). Ridge recorded 20 mm and Ayanagar 12 mm of rainfall.
In neighbouring NCR areas, Gurgaon recorded 44.5 mm at one of its weather stations, while Noida recorded 0.5 mm of showers as of 5.30 pm.
In a district-level nowcast issued at 2.15 pm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) put all 11 revenue districts of Delhi under red alert, forecasting moderate rain at most places with isolated heavy rainfall of 50-100 mm, thunderstorms and strong winds. It also warned of winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts reaching 60 kmph, along with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.
#WATCH | Delhi: Waterlogging witnessed at Indira Gandhi International Airport after heavy rainfall lashed the national capital. pic.twitter.com/vejJpM2W2l
A squall was reported at Palam airport between 3.37 pm and 3.39 pm, with wind speeds reaching 76 kmph. Visibility at the airport dropped to 600 m during the spell.
The heavy rain inundated several stretches, with waterlogging reported in Vasant Kunj, Mahipalpur, Mehrauli, Connaught Place, ITO, Mathura Road, Sadar Bazar and Kamla Nagar.
Several key underpasses, including those at Pul Prahladpur, Zakhira and Minto Bridge, were affected, while the Utsav Park area in Patparganj also reported waterlogging.
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Traffic movement slowed across the city, with bumper-to-bumper traffic reported at several locations, including Subroto Park.
Rainfall had been largely limited to a few parts of the city during the morning and early afternoon before the heavier spell.
The weather over Delhi is being influenced by a well-marked low pressure area over central northern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Uttar Pradesh, along with the monsoon trough passing through the region. The low pressure system is expected to remain nearly stationary for the next two days, keeping conditions favourable for rainfall over Delhi-NCR.
IMD officials have also noted the presence of troughs extending across North India, while a fresh Western Disturbance is affecting the upper-level weather pattern.
#WATCH | Delhi: Waterlogging in several parts of the National Capital following heavy rainfall.
The IMD issued a yellow alert for Saturday, forecasting one or two spells of light to moderate rain and thunderstorms from early morning to forenoon, followed by another spell from afternoon to evening.
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The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 29 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius, with the minimum between 24 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius.
The weather is expected to improve from Sunday. The IMD has issued a green warning for September 6, with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of very light rain. Dry conditions are forecast for September 7 and 8, with maximum temperatures likely to rise to 33-35 degrees Celsius.
Safdarjung on Friday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius. Delhi’s AQI was ‘satisfactory’ at 71, according to CPCB data.
So far, Delhi has received 509.8 mm of rainfall this monsoon, against the normal 457.5 mm, a surplus of 11%.
Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
1. The Air Pollution Crisis
"A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure.
"Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR.
"Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter.
2. Enforcement & Regulations
"No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy.
3. Education Policy
"Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
"Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation.
Signature Style
Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws.
X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More
