Delhi and its neighboring regions witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall, accompanied by hailstorms, on Saturday, leading to a marked dip in temperatures. The downpour, which began early in the morning, is expected to persist throughout the day, affecting areas such as Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road, IGI Airport, Mehrauli, Chhattarpur, Ayanagar, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Manesar. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert, warning residents of severe weather conditions, including gusty winds and possible thunderstorms.
The heavy rains have uprooted trees in various parts of Delhi and caused a road collapse in RK Puram’s Sector-9, where a motorcycle and car fell into the damaged area. Additionally, traffic disruptions and waterlogging have been reported across the city, causing inconvenience for commuters.
The IMD predicts light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms in parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, cities like Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, and Mathura have been affected, while Alwar and Tizara in Rajasthan have also experienced rain.
Delhi recorded its highest December rainfall in 15 years, with minimum and maximum temperatures on Saturday at 12°C and 19°C, respectively. While the rain has slightly improved Delhi’s air quality, the AQI remains in the ‘very poor’ category, with key locations such as Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh recording some of the highest levels.
The Central Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has revoked Stage IV (‘Severe+’) measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to the improved air quality. However, Stages I, II, and III remain in force to curb further deterioration. The improvement in air quality is attributed to enhanced wind speeds and other meteorological conditions.
