Heavy rain and thunderstorms strike Delhi as weather office issues red alert

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit parts of Delhi-NCR early on Monday, October 12, 2026. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the national capital. The sudden downpour brought cooler weather to the city. At the same time, it caused waterlogging in several areas. Data from the weather department shows the Safdarjung observatory recorded 40 mm of rainfall until 5:30 am. The Delhi airport received 30 mm of rain during the same period. The red alert warned of lightning, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall of more than 15 mm per hour. It also warned of strong winds reaching up to 60 kmph across Delhi until 9 am. Affected areas included R K Puram, Kartavya Path, and parts of central, southeast, and west Delhi.

Context

Sudden heavy downpours in urban areas often overwhelm drainage systems and quickly lead to waterlogged streets. The India Meteorological Department issues color-coded alerts to warn the public and authorities about severe weather conditions ahead of time.