IMD Issues Red Alert as Heavy Rain Batters Delhi-NCR, Triggers Waterlogging

Heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to upgrade its alert from yellow to red. Several areas, including Gurugram’s Basai Road, saw waterlogging after the early morning downpour.

The IMD warned of light to moderate rain across most areas, with isolated pockets likely to see heavy rain over the next two to three hours. The red alert is in place until at least 9:30 a.m., according to district-wise nowcast warnings.

The fresh spell follows Tuesday’s heavy showers, which disrupted air travel across the region with multiple flight delays and cancellations.

Beyond Delhi-NCR, the IMD has forecast heavy rain for Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, north Madhya Pradesh, and western Uttar Pradesh in the coming hours.

Delhi has already received over 706 mm of rainfall this year—91% of its annual average—driven by active weather systems over northwest India despite neutral monsoon conditions, said Mahesh Palawat of Skymet. More rain this month is expected to push the city past its yearly rainfall mark.