Heavy rains lash parts of Delhi, causing waterlogging, affecting Durga Puja celebrations
In a sudden change of weather, several parts of the national capital, Delhi, on Tuesday received heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds.
Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were battered by relentless rain on Wednesday night, leaving thousands of commuters stranded in knee-deep water and stuck in hours-long traffic snarls while trying to return home from work.
In one striking incident on Thursday, the Southern Peripheral Road in Gurugram caved in following the downpour. A truck loaded with beer bottles overturned and fell into the crater. While no casualties were reported, a crane had to be deployed to lift the vehicle out. A senior traffic police official said the incident was a stark testimony to the scale of rain-induced damage across the region.
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Commuters across Delhi and Gurugram reported frustrating and often exhausting journeys home.
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Nikita Gupta, a Gurugram resident working in Delhi’s Connaught Place, described a harrowing five-hour ordeal. “I left my office in CP at 7:30 pm and only reached home at 12:30 am—completely drenched in filthy water—after taking the metro and two auto rides. The first auto broke down due to waterlogging,” she said. “The water on the streets was well above knee level—almost up to my lap. People were forced to walk long stretches as the traffic barely moved.”
In response to the severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions caused by overnight rain, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Gurugram, issued an advisory on Thursday urging corporate offices and private institutions to implement work-from-home arrangements.
The decision came after the city recorded an intense spell of 133 mm rainfall in just 12 hours.
“All corporate offices and private institutions in the district are advised to allow employees to work from home on July 10, 2025, to help reduce traffic congestion and ensure public safety,” the advisory stated. “Please stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official updates.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Thursday.
Alongside Gurugram, parts of Delhi received heavy rainfall, and severe waterlogging issues were reported on Wednesday. Panchkuian Marg and Dhaula Kaun were among the many areas to face waterlogging issues. According to Delhi Traffic Police, both the carriageways from Nangloi towards Mundka and vice versa on Rohtak Road were affected due to waterlogging, potholes, and road/sewer repairing work by PWD.
Delhi on Thursday recorded 17.1 mm of rainfall until 5:30 pm according to IMD data. Earlier, till 8:30 am, the national capital received 20.5 mm of rainfall. The maximum temperature in the city settled at 30.6 degrees Celsius, which was nearly a drop of 5 degrees from the normal, while the minimum stood at 23 degrees Celsius, 4.4 notches below normal.
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