NEW DELHI – The National Capital Region (NCR) is on high alert as incessant rainfall continues to lash the area, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Ghaziabad and Noida. The warnings come as Gurugram, which was severely waterlogged on Monday, remains under an orange alert, with authorities advising schools and offices to operate online.
The IMD attributed the heavy rainfall to a “low pressure area” over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to Northwest India over the next two days.
Urban Flooding and Traffic Chaos
The continuous downpour has led to widespread waterlogging and traffic chaos across the region. In Gurugram, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued an advisory urging corporate offices and private institutions to allow employees to work from home and all schools to conduct online classes on Tuesday. This followed a Monday evening downpour where the city received over 100 mm of rainfall in just four hours, causing major traffic snarls.
The situation in Delhi is also critical, with the Yamuna River’s water level expected to exceed the danger mark, raising concerns of potential flooding in low-lying areas. The Delhi Traffic Police have had to divert traffic on key routes, and airlines have issued advisories due to poor visibility and waterlogged runways.
The persistent urban flooding in cities like Gurugram has been attributed to a combination of factors, including unplanned development, shrinking natural water bodies, and inadequate drainage systems. Urban planning experts have noted that the city’s modern infrastructure has blocked its natural slope towards drainage channels, turning roads into canals during heavy rain.
With the IMD forecasting more intense rainfall and the threat of landslides in the coming days, residents across the NCR are advised to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel.