Delhi Sees Another Rainy Morning, Waterlogging and Traffic Chaos Return; IMD Forecasts Respite from Friday

The national capital woke up to widespread light to moderate rain on Wednesday morning — the second consecutive day of downpours that left several parts of the city waterlogged and traffic crawling during peak office hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast similar weather for Thursday, though no colour-coded alert has been issued. Rain intensity is likely to dip from Friday, with only scattered light rain expected over the weekend.

Rainfall Totals and Temperature

In the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am on Wednesday, the city’s base station at Safdarjung recorded 14.4 mm of rainfall. Other key areas saw varying totals: Lodhi Road (20.6 mm), Ridge (32.8 mm), Pragati Maidan (38.9 mm), Pusa (23.5 mm), Najafgarh (13 mm), Janakpuri (18.5 mm), and Palam (1.9 mm). Additional scattered showers around noon brought Safdarjung’s monthly total to 151.2 mm, nearing the long-period average of 209.7 mm for July.

The maximum temperature settled at 30.8°C — four degrees below normal — while the minimum was 25.6°C. Delhi’s air quality remained “satisfactory” with an AQI of 67.

Widespread Waterlogging, Road Damage, and School Flooding

Despite relatively moderate rainfall, waterlogging caused major disruptions across the city. The Public Works Department received at least 15 complaints by 10 am from areas such as Seelampur, Keshavpuram, Anand Parbat, and Vinod Nagar. Water also pooled under the Zakhira flyover and in parts of Karkardooma and Pitampura. New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, Najafgarh, and MB Road near Saket metro station reported knee-deep inundation.

A portion of Joginder Singh Marg in Janakpuri caved in, prompting authorities to cordon off the area. Viral videos shared by AAP leaders showed a man paddling an inflatable boat in Patparganj and another swimming through flooded streets in West Vinod Nagar.

In another disturbing development, a video from Nagar Nigam Balika Vidyalaya, an MCD-run school, showed a classroom submerged in knee-high water with students stranded on desks. Outside, parents and students waded through waist-deep water. While the MCD has yet to comment, the incident prompted sharp criticism from AAP leaders, who accused the BJP of failing to prepare for the monsoon. BJP’s Virender Sachdeva countered, claiming that the administration’s efforts had reduced flooding in several traditionally vulnerable spots.

‘Cleanest July’ on Record?

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa touted Delhi’s improving air quality, stating that the city is on track to record its cleanest July, with an average AQI of 67 so far. Sirsa noted that Delhi has already experienced 118 days of “good to moderate” air quality in 2025, nearing the total of 120 such days seen in all of 2024. He credited a multi-agency implementation model and outcome-focused governance for the sustained improvements.

Outlook

With ample moisture still in the air, the IMD expects light to moderate rain to continue on Thursday before tapering off. However, residents may have to brace for more traffic woes and urban flooding in low-lying areas before the skies clear.