NEW DELHI, May 25— Delhi woke up to overcast skies and waterlogged streets on Sunday after a night of intense rainfall and thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the national capital. The severe weather disrupted air traffic, flooded major roads, and brought city life to a near halt.
According to the Delhi Fire Department and airport officials, at least 49 flights were diverted due to poor visibility and weather-related complications. Roads leading to the Indira Gandhi International Airport were also flooded, worsening the chaos for passengers.
In some areas, particularly around Delhi Cantt, visuals shared by news agency ANI showed a bus and a car submerged under water, forcing stranded commuters to flee for safety. Several electricity poles and trees were also uprooted, causing traffic congestion across key routes in the capital.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert late Saturday, warning of an approaching thunderstorm system from the west and northwest, accompanied by frequent lightning and gusty winds. The downpour led to a steep drop in temperature, with the city recording a minimum of 19.8°C — 6.9°C below normal.
While the rain brought respite from the searing summer heat, the infrastructure collapse drew sharp reactions online. “Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi — divided by language, united by turning into river rafting spots within 15 minutes of rain,” read one viral post on X (formerly Twitter). Another user wrote: “It is extremely sad and annoying to see all our big cities in this mess during rainy season every year. We can’t be a developed economy with this quality of infrastructure.”
Authorities are continuing cleanup and relief efforts, while the weather department has advised residents to remain cautious amid forecasts of continued rainfall.
