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The national capital region of Delhi-NCR experienced an unexpected downpour on Wednesday evening, causing widespread traffic disruptions and waterlogging in several areas. The intense rainfall caught residents off guard as the city had enjoyed a largely dry day until late afternoon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the entire Delhi-NCR, warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds. The alert was issued as a Nowcast warning at 7 pm, urging residents to take precautions.
The rainfall intensity was particularly severe in certain parts of the city, with SPS Mayur Vihar station in East Delhi recording an astonishing 8.95 cm of rainfall between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. Lodhi Road station reported 6.9 cm of rainfall during the same hour, while Delhi University recorded 5.35 cm. The IMD defines an extremely intense spell as 5 to 10 cm of rainfall per hour. Between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm, SPS Mayur Vihar received a total of 11.9 cm of rainfall, while Gautham Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh experienced 11.85 cm. These figures stand in stark contrast to the trace rainfall recorded at Lodhi Road and Safdarjung weather stations before 5.30 pm.
The IMD attributed the sudden downpour to the movement of the monsoon trough from its usual southern position to its normal position, along with an influx of moisture from both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The IMD had issued an initial warning of moderate rainfall activity in its seven-day forecast on Monday. The rainfall caused significant traffic disruptions across the city, with the Delhi Traffic Police issuing advisories about waterlogging at multiple locations, including Chatta Rail Chowk, Nigam Bodh Ghat, and the Okhla Underpass. The heavy rainfall serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the monsoon season and highlights the importance of being prepared for sudden weather changes.
Source: Red alert in Delhi after sudden intense spells of rain; Mayur Vihar worst hit