Heavy rain led to waterlogging at IGI airport; 11 flights were diverted
NEW DELHI: Delhi Friday surpassed its annual normal rainfall quota with nearly four months still left in the year.
IMD data shows that Safdarjung, the city’s base station, has logged 780 mm of rainfall so far this year, against the annual normal of 774.4 mm. On Friday, between 8.30am and 5.30pm, it logged 32.6 mm of rainfall. Palam saw heavy rainfall of 75.6 mm, along with a squall with wind speed touching 76 kmph. The squall, which lasted two minutes, occurred around 3.37pm. Janakpuri received 48.5 mm, Lodhi Road 34.6 mm, Pusa 29 mm, Jharoda Kalan 25 mm and Ridge 20 mm of rainfall While Naraina recorded 54 mm. Last year, Delhi crossed its annual rainfall mark of 774.4 mm on Aug 14, marking the fastest such development since 2021, when the annual mark was breached on Aug 1. IMD data shows that of the total rainfall recorded so far, 686.5 mm of rainfall has been logged during the ongoing monsoon season since June 1. Aug was the wettest monsoon month this year, receiving 52% surplus rainfall. Delhi had witnessed a 44% rainfall deficit in June. However, after the onset of monsoon in the city on July 2, July saw frequent and widespread rain spells that resulted in 23% excess rainfall.
“The interaction of a well-marked low-pressure area, monsoon trough and a western disturbance led to a widespread rainfall in Delhi,” said D R Pattanaik, an IMD scientist.
Another intense spell of rain continued to put Delhi at odds with the El Nino impact elsewhere in the country. Water flooded stretches near IGI airport, AIIMS, Connaught Place and Anand Vihar and other areas, leaving commuters wading through knee-deep waters and traffic crawling at several key points.