New Delhi: Heavy rains and thunderstorms struck Delhi and its adjoining areas early Monday morning, which led to massive traffic jams and affected flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
Trees got uprooted in some parts of the national capital and traffic snarls were reported in various stretches, including ITO, DND and near AIIMS.
Meanwhile, ANI reported that over 40 departure and 18 arrival flights were delayed due to bad weather and other related issues, and two flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport.
“Due to bad weather, flight operations at @DelhiAirport are affected. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for updated flight information. #BadWeather #Rain.”
Due to bad weather, flight operations at @DelhiAirport are affected. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for updated flight information. #BadWeather #Rain
Advertisement— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 23, 2022
According to the Times of India, hundreds of passengers have been stranded with 19 flights being diverted to Jaipur and other airports.
#FlyAI :Due to inclement weather in Delhi, flights are getting diverted & delayed. Traffic congestion on roads is also likely. Passengers are requested to keep sufficient time in hand to report for flights.
Advertisement— Air India (@airindiain) May 23, 2022
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that thundershower with moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with a speed of 60-90 kilometre per hour would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR. “Barsana, Raya, Hathras, Mathura, Jalesar (UP) Bhiwari, Tizara, Khairthal, Nagar, Deeg (Rajasthan). Light to moderate intensity intermittent rain would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Rajaund, Assandh, Safidon,” the IMD tweeted.
Thundershower with moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 60-90 Km/h would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram,
Advertisement— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 23, 2022
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According to the weather department, this was the first moderate-intensity storm of this season.
Summer is considered to start from March 1. “Normally between March and May thunderstorms occur for 12 to 14 days. But this season saw only four to five thunderstorms and that too mostly dry ones,” the department said.
The thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and rain led to a drastic fall in the surface temperature on Monday. Between 5.40 am and 7 am, the temperature plummeted by 11 notches from 29°C to 18°C.
The minimum temperature at 8.30 am was recorded at 17.2°C, three notches below the season’s average, while 12mm of rainfall was recorded till 8.30 am.
The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 37°C.
Delhi on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 39.3 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal, while the minimum temperature was 23.1°C, three notches below the season’s average.
(With inputs from PTI)
