New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the national capital has recorded 1,100 mm of rainfall during the monsoon season this year. It has been the highest in the last 46 years. The IMD further said that the rainfall in Delhi this season has witnessed almost double the precipitation recorded last year. However, the figures may change as IMD has predicted more rainfall in the city during the day.
"The Safdarjung Observatory, which is considered the official marker for the city, had gauged 1,150 mm of rainfall in the 1975 monsoon season. This year, the precipitation has already hit the 1,100-mm mark and the season has not ended yet," an IMD official was quoted by PTI in its report.
"Light to moderate rain is likely in the next two days. Another wet spell is predicted around September 17-18," the official further said.
Due to the heavy rainfall, water logging issues has been witnessed in various places including the Moti Bagh and RK Puram in South Delhi, Delhi airport terminal, and others. As per the PTI report, due to the water logging in the forecourt of the Delhi airport, 4 domestic flights including 2 of SpiceJet and one each of IndiGo and Go First were diverted to Jaipur. One international flight Emirates flight from Dubai to Delhi was also diverted to Ahmedabad.
A purported video of floodwater inundating Delhi airport is going viral on social media.
Delhi has already recorded 243.5 mm rainfall so far in September, surpassing the month’s average of 129.8 mm rain by a considerable margin. Delhi had recorded 117.7 mm rainfall in a span of 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on September 2, the highest single-day rain in the month in the last 19 years.
(With input from Agencies)