Delhi Shelled by Heavy Rain, Schools Closed

Delhi experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday, bringing a much-needed respite from the sweltering heat. However, this relief came with its own set of challenges. The most significant rainfall was recorded in Mayur Vihar, where a staggering 119 mm of rain fell within just three hours.

Due to the heavy downpour, the Delhi government announced that all schools, both private and government, would remain closed on Thursday, August 1st. This decision was shared by Atishi, a minister in the Delhi government, on social media late last night.

The rain caused traffic chaos in various parts of the city, with many locations suffering from waterlogging. The Minto Bridge, in particular, was completely flooded, halting traffic completely.

Initially, the weather department had issued a yellow alert, anticipating only light to moderate rain. But as the evening progressed and heavy rainfall began, the alert was escalated to a red warning for four districts: north-west, north-east, south-west, and south-east Delhi.

While the heavy rain provided some relief from the humid weather, it disrupted daily life significantly. The India Meteorological Department had predicted cloudy weather, with intermittent rain throughout the day, but the sun was shining in the morning, making the afternoon sticky and uncomfortable.

It wasn’t until around 5:30 PM that dark clouds rolled in and heavy rain started pouring down across most parts of Delhi, continuing for several hours into the night. In total, Delhi recorded 79.2 mm of rainfall from five-thirty to eight-thirty in the evening.

The weather department noted that the minimum temperature in the city was 30.4 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 37.8 degrees Celsius, both slightly higher than normal. Humidity levels fluctuated between 63 to 83 percent. The continuous rain was linked to moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, and the monsoon axis returned to its normal position.

Looking ahead, the weather department has issued a yellow alert for Thursday and Friday, suggesting more light to moderate rain is expected. Temperatures are also expected to drop significantly, with maximums decreasing to 33 degrees and minimums to around 26 degrees.