A sudden and intense hailstorm swept through Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday evening, bringing with it a mix of heavy rain, strong winds, and dust storms that wreaked havoc across the city. While it brought temporary relief from the sweltering summer heat, it also led to widespread damage, power cuts, traffic disruptions, and flight delays.
Top 10 Developments:
Fatalities and Injuries Reported
A 22-year-old man and a differently-abled person lost their lives in separate incidents during the storm. At least 11 others were injured as falling trees and debris caused accidents across multiple locations, police sources told PTI.
Major Traffic Routes Blocked
Several major roads including Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Ghaziabad, and Delhi-Gurugram corridors were affected due to fallen trees and waterlogging. Viral videos on social media captured trees collapsing onto moving vehicles, including one that landed on a parked car on Mathura Road.
Flight Operations Disrupted
At least 13 flights were diverted from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Twelve of them were rerouted to Jaipur and one international flight to Mumbai, resulting in delays and inconvenience for hundreds of passengers.
Widespread Power Outages
Northern parts of Delhi such as Bawana, Narela, Jahangirpuri, Civil Lines, and Shakti Nagar experienced power cuts due to storm-related damage. BSES and Tata Power confirmed that falling trees had damaged electric lines, forcing them to shut off supply temporarily to avoid electrocution hazards.
Delhi Metro Services Affected
Strong winds and flying debris disrupted overhead equipment on several Delhi Metro routes. The Red, Yellow, and Pink lines saw delays due to objects on the tracks near Shaheed Nagar, Jahangirpuri, and Nizamuddin stations. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) confirmed temporary halts and regulated movement.
Storm Winds Break Speed Records
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), gusty winds reached 79 kmph at Safdarjung, 74 kmph at Palam, 78 kmph at Pragati Maidan, and 65 kmph at Pitampura. Safdarjung recorded 12.2 mm rainfall in three hours; Mayur Vihar and Pitampura logged 13 mm and 5 mm respectively.
Traffic Alerts Issued
Delhi Traffic Police used social media to issue real-time alerts about traffic disruptions. One such disruption occurred on Mathura Road near Nizamuddin Police Station due to a fallen tree, leading to severe congestion.
NDMC Reports Multiple Tree Falls
The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at Palika Kendra reported 13 tree fall complaints within the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) limits. Key affected locations included Akshardham Road, Sikandra Road, Firoz Shah Road, and Vikas Marg, where a large billboard also collapsed near Laxmi Nagar traffic signal.
IndiGo Flight Declares Emergency
An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar carrying over 220 passengers was caught in the hailstorm mid-air. The pilot issued an emergency call before landing safely. Passengers recounted moments of panic, with many screaming and praying. Some claimed the aircraft’s nose suffered visible damage, although no official statement on the damage has been released.
Chandigarh and Punjab Also Hit
The storm extended beyond Delhi, affecting Chandigarh and parts of Punjab and Haryana. Heavy rainfall and hailstorms brought much-needed respite from intense heat, but also caused power cuts in several regions.
Weather experts have noted that the abrupt change in weather was caused by a massive cloud system moving south-southeastward from North Delhi, triggering strong windstorms. The capital had earlier recorded a heat index of 50.2°C due to high humidity and scorching sunlight.
