Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Rain lashes Delhi, disrupts traffic; air quality slips to moderate
It rained a lot in Delhi, a big city in India, on Thursday.
The rain made cars, buses, and scooters move very slowly on many roads.
People faced long queues and delays, especially on roads connecting central and east Delhi.
Some places got more rain than others — the Ridge received more than 26 millimeters of rain.
The rain also changed the city's air, which slipped from 'satisfactory' to 'moderate' quality.
That means the air was still okay to breathe, but not as clean as it had been.
At the same time, there was a big practice parade for Independence Day at the Red Fort.
Roads near the Red Fort were closed to traffic between 4 am and 10 am for security.
The rain and road closures together made driving around Delhi quite tricky that day.
Rain lashed several parts of Delhi on Thursday, causing slow-moving traffic and snarls at key intersections and arterial roads during peak hours.
The Ridge recorded the highest rainfall of 26.2 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, followed by Safdarjung at 20.2 mm, Palam at 12.6 mm and Lodi Road at 6.4 mm, while Ayanagar recorded no rain.
Traffic was heavy around ITO, Mandapam, the Geeta Colony-Shakarpur side and the Sarai Kale Khan corridor, with waterlogging reported on some stretches.
Roads around the Red Fort were closed to general traffic between 4 am and 10 am for the Independence Day full-dress rehearsal, adding to the disruption.
Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index slipped to 105 ('moderate'), the first moderate day in more than 12 days, after several days of 'satisfactory' air quality.
- Who
- Commuters in Delhi, the India Meteorological Department, the Delhi Traffic Police and the Central Pollution Control Board
- What
- Heavy rain disrupted traffic across Delhi, and the city's air quality slipped from 'satisfactory' to 'moderate'
- When
- Thursday, August 13 (rainfall measured between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm)
- Where
- Delhi, India — including ITO, Mandapam, Geeta Colony, Sarai Kale Khan, the Ridge, Safdarjung, Palam, Lodi Road and the Red Fort area
- Why
- Rain and waterlogging combined with traffic restrictions and diversions for the Independence Day full-dress rehearsal at the Red Fort
- Highest rainfall
- 26.2 mm at the Ridge (8:30 am–5:30 pm)
- Other rainfall recorded
- Safdarjung 20.2 mm, Palam 12.6 mm, Lodi Road 6.4 mm, Ayanagar none
- Air Quality Index (AQI)
- 105 — moderate (24-hour average)
- AQI history
- Satisfactory for several days; first moderate day in more than 12 days
- Highest maximum temperature
- 36°C at Ayanagar, 1.8°C above normal
- Highest minimum temperature
- 28°C at Safdarjung, 1°C above normal
- Red Fort road closure
- 4 am to 10 am for Independence Day full-dress rehearsal