Inundación, atascos de tráfico golpean Delhi mientras la lluvia fuerte golpea la ciudad; alerta roja emitida

Delhi faced severe disruptions on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, as heavy rain led to widespread waterlogging and traffic chaos. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for thunderstorms, lightning and intense rain, warning of hazardous conditions across the national capital. Streets turned into rivers, with water rising to waist level in some areas, particularly around Connaught Place, Janpath, Lutyens’ Delhi, Bharat Mandapam Road, Barakhamba Road, Mathura Road near ITO, Kalindi Kunj and other low-lying zones. Commuters struggled through submerged roads, while pedestrians sought shelter under umbrellas and bus shelters. Visibility was severely reduced, with many vehicles using headlights to navigate the darkened streets. The relentless downpour caused major traffic bottlenecks, with large pools of water accumulating at key intersections and slowing movement. Motorists had to exercise caution as they navigated through submerged stretches. Social media videos captured the scene, highlighting the severity of the situation. One such post showed traffic moving sluggishly on Minto Bridge, despite the minister for public works, Parvesh Sahib Singh, sharing footage of smooth flow there. He remarked that efforts were being made to ensure the monsoon remained a seasonal occurrence rather than a disruption. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj posted a video from Sadar Bazar, one of Delhi’s busiest wholesale markets, where water had risen to chest height, forcing children, office workers and shoppers to wade through flooded streets. Traffic congestion extended beyond central Delhi, affecting multiple districts. Reports indicated delays on major routes such as Greater Kailash-II to Savitri Cinema, Chirag Dilli, Hauz Khas, RK Puram, Sangam Vihar to Khanpur via MB Road, NH-8 near Shankar Vihar, Zakir Hussain Road, the Delhi Cantt-Naraina Flyover-Mayapuri stretch, ITO, Old Rohtak Road, the Madhuban Chowk-Netaji Subhash Place stretch, Peeragarhi, NH-48 near AIIMS, the Delhi-Noida Road, Kalindi Kunj and Vikas Marg. Congestion was also noted on arterial roads such as the Delhi-Noida Road and others, with drivers forced to move at a crawl. Rainfall measurements revealed varying intensity across different locations. Between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Pusa recorded the highest rainfall at 80 mm, followed by Janakpuri at 72 mm, Lodi Road at 63.4 mm, Chhatarpur at 57.5 mm, Safdarjung at 51 mm, Ayanagar at 50.1 mm, Narayana at 44 mm, Ridge at 37.3 mm, Mayur Vihar at 33.5 mm and Palam at 26 mm. Jafarpur saw minimal rainfall of 8 mm, while Najafgarh received none during the three-hour period. Temperature readings also showed deviations from normal, with Safdarjung recording 25.5°C, 1.8 degrees below average, and Palam at 25°C, 2.1 degrees lower than usual. Lodi Road registered 25.8°C, slightly below normal, while the Ridge station recorded a minimum of 23.2°C, 2.3 degrees colder than typical. In parallel developments, heavy rain also impacted other regions. In Kerala, Palakkad district experienced disruptions as torrential downpours caused waterlogging and traffic interruptions. An orange alert was issued, and schools were closed as part of precautionary measures. A house in Puthuppally Street collapsed, though the five-member family inside managed to escape unharmed. Officials ordered the closure of hill tourism sites, including Nelliyampathy and Malampuzha, and restricted access to certain areas. Dams were opened to manage rising water levels, with Mangalam Dam releasing water through its spillways, and similar actions taken at Kanjirapuzha and Velliyankallu structures. Power authorities activated emergency response centers to handle complaints related to fallen lines and other infrastructure failures.