Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Heavy Rain Waterlogs Delhi, Snarls Traffic Near Airport
Delhi had very heavy rain on Friday and Saturday.
Water covered many roads and underpasses, sometimes reaching knee height.
Cars moved slowly near the airport, Mahipalpur, Sangam Vihar and other neighborhoods.
Terminal 3 and roads near the airport were also affected.
Water collected in Connaught Place, and pumps were used to remove it.
Fallen trees blocked parts of Mathura Road and another road near Gitanjali.
The rain also caused a short, strong windstorm at the airport on Friday.
Weather officials warned of more storms and rain, although conditions were expected to become drier after September 7.
Heavy rain on September 4 and 5 submerged roads, underpasses and low-lying areas across Delhi-NCR.
Palam recorded 75.6 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on September 4; another report recorded 84 mm in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am on September 5.
Severe waterlogging affected Terminal 3, the Palam airport tunnel, the airport–Vasant Kunj underpass, NH-48 and Mahipalpur.
Traffic slowed sharply in areas including Sangam Vihar, Shakarpur, Laxmi Nagar, Dwarka, Connaught Place and Mehrauli-Badarpur Road.
The IMD issued orange alerts and forecast thunderstorms and rain, while lighter showers were expected Sunday before drier conditions from September 7.
- Who
- Delhi residents, commuters, the India Meteorological Department, Delhi Traffic Police and civic authorities were affected or involved.
- What
- Heavy rain caused widespread waterlogging, traffic delays, airport-area disruption and fallen trees across Delhi-NCR.
- When
- Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5; additional light to moderate rain was forecast for Sunday.
- Where
- Delhi-NCR, including Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3, NH-48, Mahipalpur, Sangam Vihar, Connaught Place, Dwarka and several underpasses.
- Why
- The IMD attributed the weather to a low-pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining southwest Uttar Pradesh, with an associated cyclonic circulation.
- September 4 rainfall
- Palam recorded 75.6 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm; Safdarjung recorded 32.6 mm and Lodhi Road 34.6 mm during the same period.
- September 5 morning rainfall
- Between 8:30 am and 11:30 am, Safdarjung recorded 22 mm, Palam 25.2 mm, Lodhi Road 24.4 mm and Ridge 6.8 mm.
- Alternative Palam measurement
- Palam recorded 84 mm in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on September 5, according to one report; another reported 75.6 mm for September 4 afternoon and evening.
- Worst-affected transport areas
- Waterlogging was reported at Terminal 3, the Palam airport tunnel, the airport–Vasant Kunj underpass, NH-48 and the NH-8 underpass.
- Other affected areas
- Connaught Place, Mahipalpur, Sangam Vihar, Shakarpur, Laxmi Nagar, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Mathura Road and several Dwarka sectors experienced flooding or traffic disruption.
- Airport squall
- A two-minute squall on September 4 brought 7 mm of rain, winds up to 76 kmph and visibility of 600 metres.
- Forecast
- The IMD forecast thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rain, with moderate to heavy rain possible on September 5; Sunday showers were also possible, followed by largely drier conditions from September 7.
