IMD Issues Red Alert for Delhi-NCR Amid Heavy Rains

Heavy rains lashed Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the region. Since 5:00 AM, continuous showers have been reported in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, causing severe waterlogging and traffic congestion.

Visuals from across the region showed submerged roads, stranded vehicles, and long traffic jams, particularly during peak office hours. Areas such as Subroto Park, Dhaula Kuan, and Akshardham Flyover reported significant water accumulation, further slowing movement across major routes.

The IMD forecast predicts heavy rain accompanied by strong winds for the rest of the day. According to their latest nowcast, moderate to intense rainfall is expected over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Uttar Pradesh in the next few hours.

In Uttar Pradesh, an orange alert has been issued for several northern districts, including Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur, Sitapur, Bahraich, Shravasti, Gonda, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, and Maharajganj. The state’s weather department has warned of thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places.

The rain has disrupted daily life, causing delays and cancellations of flights earlier in the week. In Lucknow, all government and private schools from classes 1 to 12 have been ordered closed due to bad weather.

The IMD has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with possible extremely heavy rain in isolated areas. Residents in affected regions are advised to stay updated on weather forecasts, avoid non-essential travel, and take necessary safety precautions.

While the monsoon rains bring much-needed relief from summer heat, the current wave has raised concerns about infrastructure readiness and flood management in the NCR.