Delhi To Receive More Rains Today; IMD Alerts For Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad

The Delhi-NCR region is bracing for more rainfall on Thursday after days of intense downpours pushed the Yamuna River to its highest level in decades, triggering a severe flooding crisis that has displaced thousands and brought the city to a standstill.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, warning of thunderstorms and light rain, while neighboring Gurugram is under an orange alert for moderate rainfall. Isolated heavy showers are also predicted for Haryana and Chandigarh.

The relentless monsoon rains have caused the Yamuna to swell to an alarming 207.44 meters, well above the danger mark of 205.33 meters. This is the fifth time since 1963 the river has breached the 207-meter threshold, and it is now perilously close to the record 207.49-meter level set during the 1978 floods. The rising waters have forced the evacuation of over 10,000 people from 28 low-lying areas across the capital.

The flooding has caused massive disruptions, with waterlogged roads leading to prolonged traffic jams and multiple incidents of wall collapses. In a significant blow, floodwaters entered Nigambodh Ghat, the city's oldest cremation ground, after a protective wall gave way, forcing a temporary halt to all services.

So far, air travel remains operational with no official notice from Delhi airport, though SpiceJet airline has issued an advisory warning passengers of potential delays and cancellations due to the adverse weather. This year's monsoon has been exceptionally severe, with total rainfall already exceeding 1,000 mm, far above the city's annual average of 774 mm.