New Delhi: Hours after a red alert of intense weather activity was sounded by India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi-NCR was buffeted by heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and fierce winds early Sunday. Neighbouring Haryana was also lashed by heavy showers.
On Saturday, the weather department had warned of a thunderstorm cell moving towards Delhi and adjoining areas from the west and northwest. “Under its influence, severe thunderstorm or dust-raising wind activity accompanied by frequent lightning and gusty winds (speed reaching 40–60 km/h or more) will likely affect parts of the city in the next 1 to 2 hours,” the IMD had said in a statement.
The IMD had also sounded a caution. “Avoid open spaces and not to take shelter under trees,” an advisory from the weather office said.
Rain impact: Trees uprooted, roads waterlogged, flights affected
The intense weather activity caused uprooting of trees, falling branches, and damage to crops. Many areas in Delhi-NCR were submerged in water. In Delhi, the affected areas included Moti Bagh, Minto Road, Humayun Road, Shastri Bhawan and the place near Delhi Airport Terminal 1. A car was discovered submerged near the Minto Bridge.
#WATCH #WATCH दिल्ली: राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में भारी बारिश के कारण कुछ इलाकों में जलभराव हुआ।
(वीडियो मोती बाग से है।) pic.twitter.com/FVymQ2LNi1
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) May 24, 2025
This marked the second major storm event in less than a week. On Wednesday, Delhi had witnessed gusty winds and a dust storm, with wind speeds reaching 50–60 km/h and gusts peaking at 70 km/h. Light rainfall accompanied the storm, along with thunderstorms reported in many parts.
On social media platform X, IndiGo announced that flight operations were facing impact due to adverse weather and air traffic congestion in Delhi. It asked passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. SpiceJet has announced that adverse weather conditions may impact both departure and arrival flights, and has advised passengers to check their flight status before traveling.
Social media users react
Delhi residents dubbed the weather as ‘unprecedented’ and likened it to ‘Shimla’, as the severe winds brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat. Taking to X, one of the users wrote: “Dear weather gods, if you want to make it rain in Delhi, you can do so without the scary storms that sound like pralay.”
Another wrote: “Much anticipated, storm of the decade! Captured this in sector 57, #Gurgaon. Winds howling.. crazy rain intensity of 3mm/min, 25-30mm in various areas in no time! A similar storm is affecting rest of #Delhi #Noida #Ghaziabad #Faridabad as well. Praying for everyone’s safety.”
