Heavy rainfall lashed Delhi on Friday, leaving several parts of the national capital waterlogged and causing massive traffic congestion across key roads. The downpour disrupted normal life, with flooded streets, stranded vehicles and long traffic queues reported from multiple locations in Delhi as well as adjoining Noida and Gurugram.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), moderate to heavy rainfall was expected to continue through Friday before gradually easing from Saturday. The weather agency has forecast light rain over Delhi on August 8 and 9.
Major Roads Submerged, Traffic Severely Affected
Among the worst-hit stretches was Mehrauli-Badarpur (MB) Road in South Delhi, where rainwater accumulated up to three to four feet deep near Vayusena Bad (Air Force Station). The flooded carriageway brought traffic to a near standstill, with several vehicles getting stranded in the water.
Waterlogging was also reported at Okhla Mor, Khanpur, Deoli, Sangam Vihar and Ambedkar Nagar along the MB Road corridor. Traffic between Khanpur and Okhla Mor remained heavily affected as vehicles moved slowly through inundated roads.
Several commuters reported that motorcycles and auto-rickshaws broke down after entering waterlogged stretches, while office-goers remained stuck in long traffic jams. Visuals from the affected areas showed motorists struggling to navigate flooded roads, with Air Force personnel using military trucks to cross the submerged stretch near the Air Force Station.
Congestion Reported Across the Capital
The impact of the heavy rain was not limited to South Delhi. Traffic congestion was reported from several major routes, including ITO, Wazirabad Road, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Shankar Road, Kirti Nagar, the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, Peeragarhi and Shaheen Bagh.
Heavy waterlogging was also reported from Vasant Kunj, Sangam Vihar and near the Badarpur Border Metro Station. Rainwater entered an underground subway in one of the affected areas, adding to the disruption.
In East Delhi, traffic moved slowly on GT Road, GTB Enclave and Dilshad Garden, while water accumulation was also reported from Dakshinpuri, Okhla, Sainik Farms and several other low-lying areas.
IMD Forecasts Rainfall to Ease From Saturday
According to the IMD, Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 59.2 mm of rainfall till 8:30 am on Friday. Lodhi Road received 60.4 mm, Ridge recorded 57 mm, Ayanagar logged 26.2 mm and Palam measured 16.9 mm during the same period.
IMD scientist Ankit said moderate to heavy showers were likely to continue through Friday, while rainfall activity is expected to weaken from Saturday. Light rain has been forecast across the capital over the following two days.
Delhi Fire Service Responds to Multiple Rain-Related Emergencies
The heavy rainfall also led to several emergency situations across the capital, prompting multiple responses from the Delhi Fire Service. Officials said distress calls started coming in from late Thursday night as continuous rain affected different parts of the city.
According to the Delhi Fire Service, nine incidents of house collapses and 16 cases of fallen trees were reported during the day. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported in any of these incidents.
In one of the tree-fall incidents, three women were trapped inside a house after a tree crashed onto the structure. Fire personnel reached the spot and safely rescued all three occupants.
Waterlogging Disrupts Daily Commute
The widespread flooding significantly disrupted daily life, with office-goers spending hours in traffic jams as several key roads remained submerged. Waterlogged stretches forced motorists to slow down, while some vehicles became stranded after entering flooded sections of the roads.
Residents in several low-lying areas also faced difficulties as rainwater accumulated on roads and around residential localities, affecting both vehicular movement and pedestrian access.
Rainfall Recorded Across Delhi
The IMD’s rainfall data showed that several monitoring stations across Delhi received substantial rainfall by Friday morning.
| Weather Station | Rainfall Recorded (till 8:30 am) |
|---|---|
| Safdarjung | 59.2 mm |
| Lodhi Road | 60.4 mm |
| Ridge | 57 mm |
| Ayanagar | 26.2 mm |
| Palam | 16.9 mm |
The widespread rainfall contributed to extensive waterlogging across multiple parts of the city, particularly in low-lying areas and on major arterial roads, resulting in prolonged traffic congestion throughout the day.
Heavy Rain Disrupts Life Across Noida
The impact of the downpour extended beyond Delhi, with neighbouring Noida witnessing severe waterlogging and traffic congestion. Continuous rainfall since morning slowed vehicular movement across several parts of the city, while the evening office rush further worsened the situation.
One of the worst-affected stretches was the road connecting Sector 37 to Sector 18, where vehicles moved at a crawl through waterlogged roads. Traffic police personnel were deployed at key intersections to regulate traffic and ease congestion.
Ambulance Stranded at Mahamaya Flyover Underpass
An ambulance remained stuck for more than 30 minutes in a waterlogged underpass near the Mahamaya Flyover in Noida. According to officials, the ambulance was not carrying any patient at the time of the incident.
“We have been stuck here for the last half an hour. We have not received any help so far. The ambulance is not carrying any patients,” ambulance driver Vijay Srivastava said.
The incident highlighted the challenges faced by motorists as several roads across Noida remained inundated following continuous rainfall.
Hospital Services Affected in Gurugram
Heavy rain also disrupted healthcare services in neighbouring Gurugram after rainwater entered the basement and parts of the ground floor of the Civil Hospital.
Hospital authorities suspended all medical services operating from the basement after water reportedly breached sections of the basement walls and flooded treatment areas. The injection room was among the facilities most affected by the flooding.
The hospital premises remained surrounded by water, making access difficult for patients and staff. Visuals from the hospital showed rainwater entering medical rooms and flooding corridors, forcing the administration to suspend several services while efforts continued to drain out the water and restore normal operations.
Patients visiting the Civil Hospital faced significant inconvenience as the rain-related disruption affected routine medical services during the day.
IMD Issues Rain Alerts for Several States
While rainfall activity over Delhi is expected to gradually weaken from Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rain is likely to continue in several parts of northwest and eastern India.
The weather department has issued a yellow alert for isolated areas of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, indicating the possibility of heavy rainfall. An orange alert has also been issued for parts of eastern Rajasthan, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected.
The IMD further said a low-pressure area is likely to form over eastern India within the next 24 hours. Under its influence, Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days.
Authorities Continue Monitoring the Situation
With several roads still affected by waterlogging and traffic congestion across Delhi-NCR, authorities are continuing restoration and traffic management efforts. Commuters have been advised to remain cautious while travelling through low-lying areas that remain vulnerable to flooding after heavy rainfall.
Although the IMD has forecast a reduction in rainfall intensity from Saturday, the impact of Friday’s downpour continued to be felt across Delhi, Noida and Gurugram, where inundated roads and disrupted public services affected thousands of commuters.
