A severe storm and heavy rains early Friday morning in Delhi brought much-needed relief from the relentless heatwave. Nevertheless, the abrupt weather conditions caused havoc throughout the capital, halting normal life. The heavy rainfall led to widespread waterlogging, massive traffic jams, flight delays, and a number of properties damaged. Four people lost their lives due to the strong winds of the storm and the damage it resulted in.
Waterlogging and Traffic Delays All Over Delhi
Most areas of Delhi and NCR were hit badly by waterlogging, with major spots like Dwarka Underpass, South Extension, Ring Road, Minto Road, RK Puram, and Lajpat Nagar being the most affected. The roads, which were already vulnerable to flooding during rains, became impossible for most commuters to traverse.
People complained of being stranded for hours as they tried to commute to work. One of the commuters, who was on her way to drop her daughter at school, shared with NDTV, “I left my house at 8 am. I am stuck on the road for over an hour as trees have fallen everywhere. It usually takes less than half an hour.”
Others faced similar delays. One passenger whose flight was delayed said, “Our flight from Dubai was to land at 8:45, but it landed at 9:05.”
A sub-inspector who was going to Agra also got stuck because of waterlogging. He said, “It has been raining heavily. I am not even able to go to work. My bike broke down on the way. I was going to Agra…There is excessive waterlogging here. Half of my motorcycle drowned in it.”
While a commuter on her way to work in Laxmi Nagar was relieved but also frustrated. “I am heading to my office in Laxmi Nagar. The rain has brought such relief from the heat. But now I am late for work. I have been stuck here since 5 am,” she complained.
#WATCH | Waterlogging witnessed in several parts of Delhi as heavy rain lashes the national capital
(Visuals from near Delhi airport) pic.twitter.com/b6gd6fmw8b
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2025
Uprooted Trees and Broken Bikes Lead to More Disruptions
Severe winds that were part of the storm knocked down a number of trees, creating additional disruptions. At Minto Bridge, where waterlogging was common, numerous autorickshaws and bicycles were stranded due to the flooded waters. There were reports of fallen trees elsewhere in the city as well, which obstructed roads and contributed to the total traffic jam.
Apart from the extensive waterlogging and traffic congestion, the storm toppled trees that destroyed property. The extent of property damage is still being estimated.
Four Killed as Tree Falls on Dwarka House
A tragedy occurred in Dwarka, Delhi, as a 28-year-old woman and three children lost their lives when a neem tree crashed into their home due to the strong winds. The blow from the storm caused the roof of a tube well room to collapse, taking the lives of the victims. The victims included Jyoti, Aryan (7 years old), Rishabh (5 years old), and Priyansh (7 months old). The husband of Jyoti, Ajay, was also hurt but only sustained minor injuries.
The police were aided by the fire department and succeeded in rescuing the victims from beneath the debris and took them to a nearby Jaffarpur Kalan hospital. They were pronounced dead when they arrived. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh also confirmed the incident, saying, “With the help of the police and fire department, they were pulled out of the rubble and shifted to a nearby hospital in Jaffarpur Kalan, where four of them were declared dead.”
Flight Delays and Diversions at Delhi Airport
The storm’s impact was felt at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where more than 120 flights were delayed, and several others were diverted due to strong winds and poor visibility. According to FlightRadar, the average delay for arriving flights was 21 minutes, while departing flights faced delays of about 61 minutes.
Passengers were left stranded at the airport, leading to frustration and confusion. In turn, the airport released an advisory, which said, “In the light of the advisory from the India Meteorological Department, we wish to inform you that the airport remains fully operational. However, some flight operations may be affected by the adverse weather conditions. Our dedicated on-ground teams are collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for our passengers. We kindly request passengers to stay updated on their flight status by contacting their respective airlines.”
Passenger Advisory issued at 09:37 Hrs@IndiGo6E
@flyspicejet
@airindia#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory pic.twitter.com/n1rah4ll6a— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 2, 2025
Airlines Advise Passengers on Delays
IndiGo and Air India, two of India’s biggest carriers, posted advisories to passengers about the disruptions. IndiGo updated travelers that “Early morning thunderstorms and heavy rain over Delhi have impacted flight operations. We understand this may cause inconvenience and truly appreciate your patience. We’re monitoring this situation closely and are hopeful for a return to normalcy soon. We request you to check your flight status and explore flexible rebooking options.”
#6ETravelAdvisory: Heavy showers in #Delhi are impacting flight operations. Stay updated on flight status https://t.co/ll3K8PwtRV or explore flexible rebooking options https://t.co/51Q3oUe0lP. Please allow extra time to reach the airport due to possible waterlogging en route. pic.twitter.com/xAR2Dm24JY
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) May 2, 2025
Air India repeated the same, stating, “Thunderstorms and gusty winds have affected flight operations in parts of Northern India. Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimise disruptions. We advise our guests to check the latest status of their flights.”
Thunderstorms and gusty winds have affected flight operations in parts of Northern India. Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimise disruptions.
We advise our…
— Air India (@airindia) May 2, 2025
The airport delays and disruptions resulted in additional congestion in Delhi, with SpiceJet posting an alert that read, “We are experiencing massive ATC (Air Traffic Control) congestion at Delhi due to bad weather. All departures/arrivals and their consequential flights might get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status.”
Train Services Impacted by Felled Trees
The heavy rainstorm also impacted train movement in the Delhi division, as about 15 to 20 trains were held up. Trees toppled over on wires owing to the high winds, and this caused a breach in the routine functioning of the railway system.
