Delhi and its neighbouring regions faced a day of chaos on Wednesday as heavy rainfall paralysed normal life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD)
issued a red alert for the National Capital Region (NCR), warning of more downpours in the coming days. The Yamuna river breached the danger mark, raising fears of flooding in low-lying areas. Transportation was also hit hard, with several flights delayed at Delhi airport and train services disrupted on multiple routes. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the Yamuna’s water level is expected to cross the critical mark by 8 PM today. The downpour led to severe waterlogging on arterial roads, long traffic jams, and commuters stranded at bus stops and metro stations. More rain is likely over the next 24 hours, which could worsen the situation.
#WATCH Delhi: Rain lashes parts of the national capital; visuals from Arjangarh area. pic.twitter.com/kZwH6Z7BwO
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025
IMD issues Red alert
The red alert issued by IMD is the highest level of warning and indicates the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall. The department also advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay indoors. Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad are expected to see heavy spells as well. Emergency response teams have been asked to stay on high alert to deal with any eventuality.Yamuna River Crosses Evacuation Mark
Adding to the city’s woes, the Yamuna river crossed its evacuation mark on Tuesday afternoon. At the Old Railway Bridge, the water level was recorded at 206.1 metres, above the danger threshold of 205.33 metres.The rising level triggered fears of flooding in low-lying areas such as Kashmere Gate, Yamuna Bazar, and nearby settlements. Authorities have started evacuating residents from vulnerable zones and shifting them to relief camps. The Delhi government has also suspended activities near the river and banned entry into flood-prone areas.
Flights Cancelled
Transport chaos compounded the crisis. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, nearly 100 flights were delayed. Passengers faced long queues and confusion as airlines struggled to reschedule services. Meanwhile, train operations on routes passing through Delhi and NCR were also hit. Several trains were either cancelled, diverted, or delayed, leaving passengers stranded at New Delhi and Anand Vihar railway stations. Officials said that waterlogging on tracks and operational bottlenecks slowed down services.Delhi Metro Affected
The Delhi Metro too was affected on Monday, with trains running at reduced speed on several stretches due to water accumulation near tracks. Metro stations in areas like Dwarka, Lajpat Nagar, and Rajiv Chowk saw overcrowding as passengers struggled to reach their destinations amid disrupted bus and cab services.Traffic Remains Choke for Hours
Road traffic remained choked for hours as heavy waterlogging turned major junctions into pools. Vehicles moved bumper-to-bumper on Ring Road, ITO, and stretches near South Extension.#WATCH | Delhi: Traffic congestion and slow vehicular movement after rainfall in Delhi-NCR; visuals from Subroto Park area pic.twitter.com/cBvJfnVmtg
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2025
Train Delayed
Railway operations in Delhi have been severely affected after traffic movement was suspended at Bridge No. 249, also known as the Old Yamuna Bridge, under the Delhi Division. The disruption has forced the Railways to cancel, divert, and short-terminate several trains, causing inconvenience to passengers.A total of 54 trains have been cancelled, while 43 services are being diverted. In addition, 20 trains will originate from different stations, and 21 will be short-terminated.
The decision has been taken as a safety measure until further notice. Passengers have been advised to check the latest updates before travelling.