Heavy monsoon showers lashed Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday morning, triggering widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and significant disruptions to air travel. Major airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet issued urgent travel advisories, warning passengers of potential delays due to adverse weather conditions.
Flight Operations Affected
The downpour, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms, has impacted flight schedules at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport:
- Air India cautioned travelers: “Gusty wind and rain may impact flight operations to and from Delhi this morning… Please check your flight status and allow extra time for your journey”.
- IndiGo posted a “Rainy Day Reminder,” urging passengers to plan ahead: “We’re seeing a chance of delays and slower traffic to and from the airport. Please check your flight status and consider giving yourself a little cushion of time”.
- SpiceJet warned: “Due to bad weather in Delhi (DEL) and Dharamshala (DHM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected”.
Traffic Chaos and Waterlogging
The rain caused severe waterlogging across key areas in Delhi, including Kartavya Path, Rafi Marg, and parts of Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurgaon. Commuters faced long delays, and authorities advised using public transport to avoid traffic jams en route to the airport.
Weather Forecast and IMD Advisory
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast:
- Generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall
- Thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas
- Rainfall expected to continue until August 3
- No colour-coded alert issued yet, but officials urge caution
What Passengers Should Do
To minimize inconvenience, travelers are advised to:
- ✅ Check flight status regularly via airline websites or apps
- ✅ Allow extra travel time to reach the airport
- ✅ Avoid waterlogged routes and monitor traffic updates
- ✅ Stay informed through official advisories
