Delhi Crosses Annual Rain Mark as Downpour Floods Connaught Place, Roads
Delhi surpassed its annual normal rainfall quota on Friday with nearly four months still remaining in the year, as an intense spell of rain triggered widespread waterlogging across major stretches, including Connaught Place. Total rainfall recorded at the city's base station reached 780 mm, officially crossing the annual benchmark of 774.4 mm.
The sudden downpour disrupted routine transit across the capital, leaving commuters to wade through knee-deep water and causing traffic to crawl at several key junctions. Stretches near Connaught Place, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, AIIMS, and Anand Vihar were heavily inundated following the deluge.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung base station logged 32.6 mm of rainfall on Friday between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm. This surge pushed the cumulative tally over the annual mark, putting Delhi's weather patterns at odds with the El Nino impact experienced in other parts of the country.
Weather stations across the city noted significant variations in precipitation during the day. Palam recorded heavy rainfall of 75.6 mm, accompanied by a two-minute squall that struck around 3:37 pm with wind speeds touching 76 kmph. Other localities also saw substantial totals, with Naraina logging 54 mm and Janakpuri receiving 48.5 mm.
Elsewhere in the capital, Lodhi Road recorded 34.6 mm of rainfall, while Pusa received 29 mm. Stations at Jharoda Kalan and the Ridge documented 25 mm and 20 mm of rain, respectively, during the daytime spell.
Explaining the meteorological triggers behind the intense precipitation, IMD scientist D R Pattanaik said, "The interaction of a well-marked low-pressure area, monsoon trough and a western disturbance led to a widespread rainfall in Delhi."
Crossing the annual rainfall mark this early continues a trend observed in recent seasons. Last year, Delhi breached its 774.4 mm mark on August 14, while the fastest recent occurrence took place on August 1, 2021. The IMD has indicated that the wet period is set to continue, with more showers forecast over the next few days.
