Heavy rain lashed multiple parts of Delhi-NCR on Thursday, submerging arterial stretches from Connaught Place to the approach roads of Indira Gandhi International Airport and throwing flight operations into disarray. The India Meteorological Department escalated its advisory to a red alert, signalling that residents should brace for sustained and intense precipitation through the evening hours. Visuals circulated by news outlets showed waist-deep water gushing through airport terminals and access lanes, with vehicles stranded and passengers scrambling to navigate flooded corridors.
The deluge struck days before Delhi is scheduled to host the BRICS Summit, raising immediate concerns over the capital's preparedness to manage a high-profile international gathering under adverse weather conditions. Connaught Place, one of the city's busiest commercial hubs, was among the worst-hit zones, with shops and office basements reportedly inundated. Water also backed up along the main carriageway leading to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, leaving arriving travellers wading through ankle-to-knee-deep slush while cab aggregators suspended services to flooded pockets.
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Flight operations at IGI Airport, India's busiest aviation hub, were among the most visible casualties. Several services were diverted to alternate airports, while airlines issued advisories warning passengers of extended delays and possible cancellations. Airport operators activated emergency response protocols, deploying pumps and ground staff to clear standing water from operational areas. Air traffic controllers coordinated with neighbouring airports to absorb incoming diversions, but the cascading effect rippled across the broader network.
The IMD's red alert — the highest in its colour-coded warning system — indicates the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 115 mm in a 24-hour period, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. The department has urged municipal agencies to remain on high alert for urban flooding, tree falls, and disruption to power supply lines. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and refrain from commuting through low-lying underpasses.
With the BRICS Summit looming and monsoon systems showing no immediate sign of weakening, civic agencies across the National Capital Region — including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Public Works Department, and the National Highway Authority of India — are under pressure to restore arterial drainage and pump out critical infrastructure corridors before dignitaries and delegations begin arriving in the city.
