Incessant rain disrupts normal life in Delhi-NCR

The national capital, along with the adjoining areas, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, experienced moderate to heavy rainfall for over 24 hours on Tuesday, which has thrown normal life out of gear in the region.

Waterlogging at several places affected the flow of traffic on arterial roads leading to massive jams in several parts and left thousands of commuters, including school children, struggling to reach their destination in time.

Advertisement

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), 37.8 millimetre (mm) rainfall was recorded till 8:30 am in the national capital, and then 16.0 mm more was added till 5:30 pm.

In view of the heavy downpour, people living in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places.

According to the Central Water Commission, water level in Yamuna River was recorded at 206.22 metre at Delhi Railway Bridge site at 1900 hours. As per current indications, it said, the water level, by 7 am on Wednesday, is likely to touch 206.90 metre mark.

The maximum and the minimum temperatures were recorded below normal for the season with 5.1 and 4.8 degree Celsius, respectively in the wake of the rains in the national capital.

The long spell of rainfall, however, has led to considerable improvement in the air quality of Delhi with the Air Quality Index (AQI) putting it under the ‘satisfactory’ category with the index value of 52.

The IMD has predicted cloudy sky for Wednesday with one or two spells of “very light to light rain/thundershowers with possibility of moderate rain at isolated places”.

The maximum and the minimum temperatures would be around 32 and 22 degree Celsius, respectively, it said in its latest update.

Meanwhile, the Delhi traffic Police issued an advisory that the Loha Pul would remain closed with effect from 4 pm till further notice, due to the rising water levels in the Yamuna, after it breached its danger mark of 205.33 meters.

It also warned commuters of possible traffic diversions in several areas.

The IMD has also issued orange alert for parts of Delhi, including North Delhi, New Delhi, Central Delhi, South Delhi, South East Delhi, North East Delhi, East Delhi and Shahdara, forecasting moderate to intense rains accompanied by thunderstorms. A yellow alert has been issued for West Delhi, North West Delhi, and South West Delhi, with the weather department predicting light to moderate rainfall in these areas.

It also issued orange alert for Gurugram, predicting moderate to intense rainfall.“Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied with moderate thunderstorm and lightning (30-50 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur at Gannaur (Haryana) Shamli, Kandhla, Khatauli, Sakoti Tanda, Baraut, Bagpat, Khekra, Modinagar (U.P.),” it said.