Delhi on Wednesday woke up to heavy rainfall causing waterlogging in many areas and massive traffic jams here.
Civic authorities and Delhi police have asked residents to stay away from the roads as far as possible.
People were seen wading through knee-deep water in several areas. Commuters, too, had a hard time as vehicular traffic crawled on the roads clogged with long tailbacks.
Traffic helpline officials said that they were flooded with calls of traffic jams and waterlogging across the national capital.
"Reports of heavy traffic congestion and vehicles being stuck on roads are coming from different parts of the city since morning. We have till now received more than 100 calls of traffic jams and waterlogging," an official of the traffic helpline said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry , who is on his fourth visit India, was scheduled to have a talk with IIT Delhi’s students at 9.30am, but was delayed as heavy rains lashed the capital. He arrived closer to 11 am, instead.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh was also stuck in traffic for an hour.
According to the MeT department, thunderstorm with moderate to heavy rain would occur over many places of northwest, south and southeast NCR and Delhi including Bhiwani, Rohtak, IGI Airport, Dwarka, RK Puram, Gurgaon, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida during next two hours. The department said the city received 3.9 mm rain till 8.30 a.m.
Heavy waterlogging has been reported on Dr.Zakir Hussain Marg, W Point, the Loha Mandi to Mayapuri route, Gol Dak Khana, Kali Bari Marg, and the Chirag Delhi to Nehru Place flyover route. In addition, roads in the Modi Mill Flyover, Sadik Nagar, the BRT to Moolchand route, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, and the Nehru Place to Zamrudpur route are also deluged.
The minimum temperature on Wednesday morning was recorded at 26 degree Celsius, one notch below the season's average.
"The sky will be generally cloudy throughout the day," an official of the India Meteorological Department said.
The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 32 degree Celsius.
The Gurgaon police issued a traffic advisory on Twitter saying, "Heavy rains in Gurgaon, please be advised. Be patient and maintain lane discipline, we are on the job to facilitate your movements."
There are reports however of major chaos on the roads of the city, which grappled with 12-hour-long jams last month after persistent showers.
"Heavy rains in Gurgaon, please be advised. Be patient and maintain lane discipline, we are on the job to facilitate your movement," the Gurgaon police tweeted, warning that visibility is low.
Commuters, who are stuck in long traffic snarl, are venting their ire on Twitter. Here are some of the reactions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to religious sites in Delhi has been cancelled due to heavy rain.
Earlier on Monday, traffic snarls led to the cavalcade of John Kerry stuck on the road leading to the city from airport.
Seven die as heavy rains lashes Hyderabad
Seven persons died in two separate incidents of wall collapse in Hyderabad today as heavy rain lashed the city.
As many as four children were among those killed in the incidents of wall or house collapse. A couple and their two children were killed when a boundary wall of a building fell on their hut in Ramanthapur area.
In another incident in Bholakpur, a woman and her two daughters were killed when the roof of their house collapsed.
The downpour brought the life in the city and outskirts to a standstill. Low-lying areas were inundated while traffic was thrown out of gear.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has opened a helpline and pressed its emergency squads into service to clear waterlogging.
