Delhi Records Highest Single Day Rainfall In 19 Years, Heavy Downpour To Continue For Next 2 Hours: IMD

Prior to Wednesday's record, the capital had recorded 126.8 mm rainfall on September 13, 2002, and 172.6 mm rainfall was recorded on September 16, 1963.

Delhi Rain

New Delhi: The national capital has witnessed the highest single-day precipitation in September in 19 years and predicted moderate to heavy intensity rain over many parts of Delhi and adjoining areas during the next two hours on Thursday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The rain continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday as citizens in Delhi-NCR woke up to heavy downpour and thunderstorms. “Thunderstorm with moderate to heavy intensity rain would occur over some parts of Delhi-NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Indirapuram), Modinagar, Bagpat, Khekra (U.P.). Thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain would continue )over and adjoining areas of few places of Delhi-NCR ( Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar) Hissar, Gannaur (Haryana) Daurala, Meerut, Kithor, Garhmukteshwar (U.P.) during next two hours,” IMD said.

As the heavy downpour brought its misery, the Delhi Police alerted that the traffic movement is closed at Azad market underpass (both carriageway) due to waterlogging.

What are early records of rainfall in Delhi?

On Wednesday, record rain in Delhi put several parts of the city at a halt including Chanakyapuri, Connaught Place, ITO, Janpath and Ring Road. Delhi recorded 112.1 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday, the highest single-day rainfall in September in 19 years.

The capital had recorded 126.8 mm rainfall on September 13, 2002. Prior to that highest recorded is 172.6 mm rainfall on September 16, 1963. The city gauged 75.6 mm rainfall in just three hours starting at 8.30 am on Wednesday. Commuters had a harrowing time as the traffic crawled on several key stretches due to extensive waterlogging at many places.

Some of the major regions facing waterlogging issues included Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri, Lodhi Road, Connaught Place, Minto Road underpass, Panchkuian road, Janpath, Akbar Road, roads near India Gate, Vasant Kunj, Ring Road, and Rohtak Road. The social media was inundated with videos of inundated streets, colonies and markets.

What are rainfalll predictions?

The weatehr department on Wednesday forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall in many states till 5 September. As per the prediction, north and central Maharashtra may also receive isolated heavy rainfall during next 24 hours. South Rajasthan is predicted to witness heavy rainfall on 1st and 2nd, Saurashtra and Kutch is likely to receive heavy shower on 3rd September.

“Rainfall activity over south peninsular and West India is very likely to increase from 3rd September when Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls very likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka during 4th-5th September," the IMD tweeted.  

Rainfall activity over Northeast regions including Assam & Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura is very likely to remain
subdued over the region from Thursday onwards, as per IMD.