August 9, 2025 – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR on Saturday, August 9. The warning came when heavy rains that started late Friday night and continued till Saturday morning caused widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions in the national capital and adjoining areas. This heavy rain on the occasion of Rakhi festival has almost brought many parts of the city to a standstill. The red alert has predicted heavy rains with lightning and thunderstorms throughout the day, due to which the administration has advised people to remain alert.
Widespread waterlogging and traffic chaos
Commuters faced serious difficulties due to heavy rains as many major roads and underpasses were submerged in water. Most complaints of waterlogging were received from these areas—
- Central Delhi: Panchkuiyan Road, Minto Road, Mathura Road and parts of Connaught Place.
- South Delhi: RK Puram, Moti Bagh and Kidwai Nagar.
- Key areas: Waterlogging also occurred outside Gate No. 7 of Bharat Mandapam, causing inconvenience to commuters in the VIP area.
The Delhi Traffic Police has shared information about traffic diversions and congested routes on social media. Waterlogging has particularly affected traffic at major intersections and railway underpasses such as Zakhira railway underpass and New Rohtak Road.
Impact on air travel
The heavy rains also affected flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to flight tracking websites, over 90 flights were delayed and 4 cancelled on Saturday morning. Though airport authorities say all flight operations are “currently normal”, airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet have advised passengers to keep extra travel time and check flight status before arriving at the airport.
IMD forecast and warning
The IMD red alert covers several areas of Delhi—north, west, south, southeast and central Delhi. Neighbouring Ghaziabad has also been put on a red alert, while a yellow alert has been issued for thunderstorms and lightning in Gautam Buddh Nagar.
According to the forecast, the rains may reduce later in the day, but the weather is likely to remain partly cloudy with light rain and thundershowers. The temperature is expected to hover between 32°C and 34°C. The IMD has warned of more rain in the coming days as a monsoon low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal around August 13, which could bring widespread rains in the region.
The incessant rains have brought some relief from the heat and humidity of the past few weeks, but it has also created chaos for residents and commuters. The administration has urged people to avoid non-essential travel and take all necessary precautions.
