NEW DELHI: After a day of searing heat, with the heat index hitting a dangerous 50.2°C around noon, Delhi and National Capital Region were battered by a sudden and intense storm late Wednesday evening.
Winds gusting up to 79kmph brought heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and widespread chaos across Delhi-NCR, killing at least five people, including two in Delhi and three in NCR cities.
Weather flips after intense heat
The IMD said the sudden change in weather was due to a southward-moving convection triggered by a cyclonic circulation over Haryana, drawing moisture from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
Around 8pm, winds gusting up to 79 kmph hit Safdarjung, followed by intense rain and hail in several parts of Delhi.
Safdarjung recorded 12.1mm of rainfall, Mayur Vihar 13.5mm, Pitampura 5mm, and Palam 2.1mm.
The heavy downpour led to a sharp drop in temperature—from 37°C at 7.30pm to 23°C by 8.30pm—a fall of 14 degrees within an hour.
2 die in Delhi, 3 more in NCR
A man with disabilities died near Lodhi Road when a high-mast light pole collapsed on his tricycle. In Gokalpuri, 22-year-old Azhar, a resident of Maujpur, died after a tree fell on him during the storm.
In Ghaziabad, a biker died near Hapur Chungi when a tree fell on him.
Two others died in Noida and surrounding NCR areas amid similar incidents of tree and signboard collapses, though their identities were yet to be confirmed.
A stormy night in Delhi
Air, metro, and road traffic hit
The storm played havoc with air and ground transport. At least 10 flights were diverted to Jaipur and Mumbai, and over 50 were delayed. Delhi Metro services were affected on the Red, Yellow, and Pink Lines due to external objects falling on tracks.
Services were restored by late evening. Noida Metro's Aqua Line was briefly halted.
Traffic crawled on multiple routes across Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. Giant signboards collapsed near Noida’s Golf Course and Sector 142 metro stations, leading to jams on the expressway.
In Delhi, snarls were reported on Mathura Road, Kodia Pul–Chatta Rail stretch, and parts of east Delhi.
Tree falls, damages, and power outages
More than 50 trees were uprooted or damaged across Delhi.
The fire department received 25 calls about fallen trees, while NDMC received complaints from Sansad Marg, Teen Murti Marg, and Satya Marg. The MCD also responded to tree-related complaints from Chittaranjan Park, Pitampura, and Krishna Nagar.
A juice shop awning collapsed in Kashmere Gate, injuring a 55-year-old man. A police machan fell in Shakurpur, though no injuries were reported.
With the day starting off sweltering, Delhi’s peak power demand surged to 7,748 MW at 3.29pm—highest of the season so far. Storm-related tree collapses on electricity lines led to power outages in several parts. Discoms said their teams were deployed promptly and most disruptions were resolved quickly.
Even with the rain, Delhi’s air quality remained ‘poor’, with the AQI at 213 (up from 204 a day ago). PM10 and ozone were the main pollutants. The Commission for Air Quality Management implemented Stage I of GRAP, activating 27 preventive measures, including anti-smog guns and mechanical road sweeping.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for hot and humid conditions till Friday, forecasting 39-41°C maximum temperatures. Despite the rain, humidity levels are expected to rise again.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s AQI remained in the ‘poor’ category, rising slightly to 213 from Tuesday’s 204. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with steps like anti-smog guns, mechanised road sweeping, and solid waste removal. Ozone and PM10 were the dominant pollutants.