A powerful thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain swept through Delhi overnight, bringing much-needed relief from the sweltering heat but also causing significant disruption. The storm uprooted trees and electricity poles, led to widespread waterlogging, and disrupted air travel. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported wind speeds reaching up to 82 kmph and recorded 81.2 mm of rainfall at the Safdarjung observatory between 11:30 pm and 5:30 am. Other parts of the city also saw substantial rainfall—Palam received 68.1 mm, Pusa 71 mm, Mayur Vihar 48 mm, Narela 30 mm, and Delhi University 29 mm.
The intense weather activity led to a drastic drop in temperature. Safdarjung recorded a minimum of 19.8°C, which is 6.9 degrees below the seasonal average. The temperature at Safdarjung fell from 31°C to 21°C between 1:15 am and 2:30 am, while Palam saw a drop from 29°C to 22°C.
At Indira Gandhi International Airport, 49 flights, including 17 international ones, were diverted due to adverse conditions. Around 180 flights were delayed or cancelled, and waterlogging was reported at Terminal 3. Key areas in the city like Moti Bagh, ITO, Dhaula Kuan, and Delhi Cantonment experienced flooding. Visuals shared on social media showed a bus and a car almost entirely submerged at an underpass in Delhi Cantonment, and similar scenes were reported from Minto Road.
The IMD had issued a red alert late Saturday, warning of an intense thunderstorm system approaching from the west and northwest. Gusty winds were reported across the city, with Palam recording 72 kmph, Pragati Maidan 76 kmph, Jafarpur 61 kmph, and IGNOU 50 kmph.
