Rains lead to waterlogging, traffic congestion in Delhi

Heavy rain lashed several parts of the national capital on Friday, wreaking havoc in the city as commuters had a hard time navigating through the waterlogged roads and traffic congestion.

The rain came after heavy overcast conditions that plunged the city into near darkness in the afternoon, prompting vehicles to ply with their headlights on.

A MeT department official said according to the Safdarjung observatory, the recordings of which are considered official figures for Delhi, the city received 52.4 mm of rain between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.

The Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar observatories recorded 14.2 mm, 44.2 mm, 118.4 mm and 71.4 mm of rain respectively during the said period.

There was heavy waterlogging under the Tilak Bridge, Modi Mill flyover, Dhaula Kuan flyover and near the Welcome metro station.

The commuters faced problems at the Zakhira flyover, Kamal T-Point, Anand Parbat, Y-Point old railway bridge at Kishan Ganj, Azad Market and near the old iron bridge at Dharmpura.

Traffic congestion was witnessed on the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg due to heavy rain.

Waterlogging was also reported from areas around the Mayapuri flyover, Naraina flyover, Bhairon Marg, Airport Road, Mathura Road, Moolchand underpass, Chhatarpur metro station, Baba Khadak Singh Marg, Defence Colony flyover and Shadipur metro station.

Trees were uprooted near the Ashok Vihar traffic signal and the ILBS Hospital traffic signal in Vasant Vihar.

The maximum temperature settled at 34.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average.

According to the MeT department, the humidity level oscillated between 98% and 60%.

The weatherman has forecast overcast skies, along with the possibility of light rains, on Saturday.

"The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 32 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively," a MeT department official said.

The minimum temperature on Thursday was 28.6 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature was 37.8 degrees Celsius.