Incessant overnight rains drench Delhi; IMD issues advisory

The national capital woke up to incessant overnight rains on Monday morning that caused waterlogging and traffic snarls on several road stretches including ITO and Pul Prahladpur.

Some of the stretches where waterlogging was reported were Ring Road, Pragati Maidan, Palam, Kirari and Rohtak road.

Waterlogged streets also led to traffic snarls at several stretches in the city and traffic was diverted at the Pul Prahladpur underpass.

“Waterlogging reported at Pulpehladpur under railway bridge. Traffic is diverted from MB (Mehrauli-Badarpur) road towards Mathura road,” the Delhi traffic police said in a tweet.

Traffic snarls were witnessed on Ring Road near Millennium Park, Sarai Kale Khan, Kilokri, near IP Flyover, Dhaula Kuan, Vikas Marg, Azadpur, among others.

Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) said waterlogging complaints were being dealt with on a priority basis.

“Our field staff along with senior engineers is on the ground. Water is being removed from streets,” a PWD official said.

The city registered 70 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast "light to moderate intensity rain" over Delhi and NCR during the day.

According to the IMD, a below 15 mm rainfall is considered "light", between 15 and 64.5 mm is "moderate", between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm is "heavy" and between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm is "very heavy", and above 204.4 mm is considered as "extremely heavy".

The weather department issued advisory suggesting "slippery roads and traffic disruption" due to thunderstorms and rain.

It also warned against "partial damage to plantation, horticulture, standing crops, vulnerable structures, kutcha houses and huts" due to rains and strong winds.

It added that moderate to heavy spells of rain may cause "occasional reduction in visibility" and waterlogging may occur in the low lying areas.

The IMD also advised to "stay indoors, close windows and doors and avoid travel if possible" and not to take shelter under trees.

"Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls. Unplug electrical/electronic appliances. Immediately get out of water bodies. Keep away from all the objects that conduct electricity," the MeT Department advised.

The city recorded minimum temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius, three points below the normal for the season.

The relative humidity was recorded at 100 per cent at 8.30 am.

The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 32 degrees Celsius.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the air quality index (AQI) at 9 am in Delhi stood at 89.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.