Heavy rainfall lashed the national capital of Delhi on Friday morning, causing widespread disruption. The downpour resulted in massive traffic jams near Delhi Airport Terminal 1 due to severe waterlogging. Long queues of vehicles were seen stranded on the water-flooded roads. The heavy rainfall also caused a portion of the roof at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 to collapse, injuring six people. One person was trapped under the debris, and fire department personnel worked to rescue them. Many vehicles were damaged in the incident, which was reported to the Delhi Fire Services around 5:30 a.m. The injured persons were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Several parts of Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram experienced heavy rainfall on Friday, ahead of the monsoon’s official entry into the national capital in the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted generally cloudy skies, rain of varying intensities, and gusty winds in Delhi for the next seven days.
A passenger at Terminal 1 of Delhi Airport, Yash, described the chaotic situation, stating, “I was going to Bangalore, I had a flight at 8:15 am. Here the roof collapsed around 5, 5:15 am… The airport authority has no answer…”
Traffic was also severely affected on Ring Road, with both carriageways from Naraina towards Moti Bagh and vice-versa experiencing waterlogging under Dhaula Kuan Flyover. Delhi traffic police advised commuters to plan their journeys accordingly. Commuters faced knee-deep water in the Connaught Place area, further highlighting the impact of the heavy rainfall on the city.
The weather forecast for June 28 includes light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures similar to the previous day and wind speeds reaching up to 35 km/h in the national capital. On June 29, the weather is expected to be slightly cooler, with a high of 36°C and a low of 28°C. The city is expected to see light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with winds blowing at 30-40 km/h speeds. By June 30, temperatures will decrease further to 34°C, accompanied by moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds. For July 1 and 2, the IMD predicts thunderstorms with moderate rain. Temperatures will remain consistent, with highs of 34°C and lows of 27°C. Wind speeds will fluctuate between 25-35 km/h.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson, in an official statement, stated that emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to affected passengers at the airport. “Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected,” he said. “As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologize for any inconvenience caused,” he added.
