IMD issues red alert in Delhi for heavy rain; Noida, Ghaziabad also experience downpour | India News - Hindustan Times

**Delhi Braces for Torrential Downpour as IMD Issues Red Alert**

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised a red alert for heavy rain across Delhi on Monday, September 4, 2026, signalling the highest level of weather warning for the capital. The alert, issued at 04:00 IST, forecasts sustained rainfall of 50‑70 mm within a three‑hour window, with isolated bursts potentially exceeding 100 mm. Adjacent cities in the National Capital Region—Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad—were also placed under the red alert, prompting the state disaster management authorities to mobilise emergency crews and pre‑position sandbags, pumps and rescue teams along vulnerable stretches.

The downpour began in earnest shortly after 10:30 IST, bringing the city’s drainage network to its limits. Waterlogged conditions were reported across major arterial roads such as the Ring Road, Ashram Marg and Mahatma Gandhi Marg, causing severe traffic snarls and halting public transport on several routes. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, rain intensity peaked within an hour, leading to temporary flooding of the apron and low‑lying taxiways; airlines delayed departures and arrivals, and the airport’s operations control center activated contingency protocols to ensure passenger safety. Residents in low‑lying colonies of East Delhi, Shahdara and parts of North West Delhi recounted streets turning into rivulets within minutes, with some homes experiencing ingress of water into basements.

Delhi’s civic administration responded swiftly, deploying over 250 portable pumps and more than 500 personnel from the Delhi Jal Board to clear blockages and pump out water from critical intersections. The police issued advisories urging commuters to avoid non‑essential travel and to use designated emergency lanes. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) remained on standby, and the state government announced an immediate financial assistance package of ₹1,200 crore for post‑flood rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades. Meteorologists cautioned that the heavy rain could linger into the night, and residents were urged to stay informed through official channels.