Incessant and heavy downpours since Monday morning have severely disrupted daily life across the National Capital Region of Delhi and its adjoining areas. The impact has been particularly harsh on Gurugram, where the extreme weather has brought normal movement to a grinding halt and caused massive inconvenience to commuters. Continuous monsoon showers have left numerous low-lying localities and arterial roads heavily waterlogged, throwing local traffic management completely out of gear.
Gurugram Announces Work From Home and Online Classes
To cope with the worsening situation, the district administration has taken proactive measures. Authorities in Gurugram have advised corporate offices and private institutions to allow their workforce to operate via work from home on August 25. Additionally, keeping student safety in mind, schools have been instructed to conduct classes online rather than holding physical sessions. The advisory, issued by DC Uttam Singh, aims to reduce vehicular congestion on the roads and shield citizens from severe waterlogging and traffic bottlenecks. Residents have also been strongly urged to avoid unnecessary travel and step out only when absolutely essential.
Massive Traffic Jams and Waterlogging on Key Expressways
The relentless rain has slowed down traffic to a crawl across major roads and the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway. Conditions escalated to the point where Sohna Road witnessed a colossal traffic jam, leaving commuters stranded for over three hours. Several school children and their buses were caught in this severe gridlock, remaining stuck inside vehicles for hours. Major waterlogging was reported from Narsinghpur, Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, and multiple parts of old Gurugram. Vehicles remained stalled near Rajiv Chowk for long stretches, while school buses and ambulances were seen trapped in deep water along Sohna Road. According to district administration figures, Gurugram recorded 70 mm of rainfall by 1:30 PM. Crucial areas including Railway Road, Sector 5, Old Delhi Road, Mehrauli Road, Basai Road, and the Naharpur underpass were severely inundated.
Traffic Disruption and Deployment of Personnel
Accumulated rainwater on thoroughfares slowed down vehicular movement, forcing people to trudge through flooded streets. Heavy traffic congestion persisted well into the afternoon across parts of old Gurugram, including Sadar Bazaar, Gurdwara Road, and Old Delhi Road. To manage the crisis, senior traffic police officers took charge, deploying additional personnel at Sirhaul Border, Rajiv Chowk, Narsinghpur, and other critical junctions to manually regulate traffic flow.
Flight Operations Disrupted at Delhi Airport
The turbulent weather extended its reach beyond road networks, severely impacting aviation services. Torrential showers across Delhi and neighbouring areas disrupted flight schedules at the capital's airport. According to an official, adverse weather conditions forced at least 15 flights arriving at the Delhi airport to be diverted to alternate destinations on Monday. Several flights at the Indira Gandhi International Airport suffered delayed departures, while a few were cancelled altogether.
IMD Issues Red and Orange Alerts
The India Meteorological Department reported that heavy spells of rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning are expected to persist throughout the day across Delhi-NCR. Specifically, areas covering south-east Delhi, east Delhi, Shahdara, and central Delhi are projected to experience continuous downpours. According to the weather office forecast, west Delhi, north-west Delhi, and north Delhi also face strong probabilities of moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning. Surface winds are expected to reach speeds between 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. In view of the worsening conditions, the weather department has sounded red and orange alerts across Delhi-NCR, advising residents to exercise caution, stay away from waterlogged zones, avoid taking shelter under trees, and steer clear of water bodies.
