New Delhi: Heavy showers in many parts of north India on Monday triggered flight diversions, waterlogging and major traffic disruptions, especially in the Delhi-NCR region, which received the bulk of the rainfall.
Parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh also received heavy rain during the day.
Traffic snarls were the worst in Gurugram where parents carrying children on their shoulders were seen wading through flooded roads to get to school buses, and vehicles were seen stuck on waterlogged roads.
The downpour caused waterlogging in several parts of Gurugram, including Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, Sohna Road and Naharpur underpass. School buses and ambulances were also caught in the waterlogging.
The district administration said Gurugram received 70 mm of rainfall by 1.30 p.m.
In Delhi, several key stretches, including parts of Lutyens' Delhi, Mathura Road, Connaught Place, Bhairon Marg, ITO and the Zakhira underpass, were waterlogged.
Some areas recorded nearly 67 mm of rain, with waist-deep water and severe traffic congestion reported in several parts of the capital.
Videos shared on social media showed at least a dozen students wading through waist-deep water in Sangam Vihar. Residents in Sadar Bazar were also forced to wade through flooded streets.
At least 15 flights were diverted at the Delhi airport due to inclement weather. Several flights were delayed and some were cancelled at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). An official said 12 flights were diverted to Jaipur, two to Chandigarh and one to Lucknow.
Many parts of Uttar Pradesh witnessed light to moderate showers and isolated heavy downpours, disrupting normal life in urban areas, the meteorological department said.
In Ghaziabad, heavy spells led to severe waterlogging across major roads and low-lying residential areas, causing massive traffic congestion. An auto-rickshaw overturned after hitting a pothole on a waterlogged road, with the passengers sustaining minor injuries.
Heavy rains also lashed Jaipur and other parts of eastern Rajasthan, disrupting traffic and causing waterlogging. Kherthal-Tijara and several other areas were flooded, while parts of Jaipur were submerged under water.
Light to moderate rain prevailed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, where 98 roads were closed to vehicular traffic on Monday evening. Twenty-one power transformers and 21 drinking water supply schemes were also disrupted, the State Emergency Operation Centre said.
Mandi reported the highest number of road blockages at 49, followed by Kullu with 28.
Heavy rainfall also lashed Odisha, with eight places receiving more than 100 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, the IMD said.
Joda in Keonjhar district recorded the highest rainfall at 169.4 mm, followed by Papadahandi in Nabarangpur at 158.8 mm and Paikmal in Bargarh at 120 mm.
The low-pressure area lay over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas of Jharkhand and north Odisha, the IMD said. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely over Gangetic West Bengal until Wednesday morning.
