Delhi drenched after long stifling weather

The National Capital which was reeling under the hot sultry weather was lashed with rains on Wednesday afternoon.

Though the sudden heavy downpour caused waterlogging and severe traffic jams in many areas, it was a relief to many.

The Safdarjung observatory recording which is considered official for the city received 15.6 mm rains till 5:30 pm while areas under Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, and Ayanagar recorded 5.8, 16, 1.2 and 0.7 mm rainfall, respectively, said a MeT department official.

The maximum temperature settled at 35 degrees, two notches below the season's average while the minimum temperature was recorded at 28 degrees, normal for this time of the year.

The humidity level oscillated between 100 and 65 percent.

The MeT has forecast one or two spells of rain and thundershowers in some areas for Thursday. "The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover at 32 and 26 degrees, respectively," the weatherman said.

On Tuesday, the maximum and minimum temperatures had settled at 39.4 and 30.5 degrees.

"Monsoon rains are expected to lash Delhi within two days", it was announced on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that this followed a mixed character of monsoon and western disturbance-induced rains in the National Capital on Wednesday.

The IMD said while most parts of the country, including central India, South Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are now under monsoon cover, eastern Uttar Pradesh, western Bihar, and the National Capital Region still awaited the onset of monsoon.

"Most likely monsoon will be declared in Delhi by tomorrow," an IMD official said.

He also stated that based on data, monsoon will be declared tomorrow (Thursday) or a day later (Friday).

The official added that monsoon was being delayed in eastern Uttar Pradesh, one of the driest areas now, due to a cyclonic circulation over north Odisha, which was cutting the easterly winds and moisture towards Uttar Pradesh.

"Monsoon will cover all the remaining parts of the country within 24-48 hours. The cyclonic circulation over north Odisha was cutting the moisture till yesterday. Today there was a drop in its activity," said the IMD.

The rains on Wednesday resulted in slow moving traffic across different parts of Delhi. Heavy traffic jams were witnessed at the areas of Delhi bordering Gurugram.

The worse affected stretch included Andheraia Modh, a stretch used by a large number of commuters for going to Gurugram and Vasant Kunj. Areas including Mehrauli-Badapur Road (MB Road), Adhichini at Aurobindo Marg and Khanpur and Dhaula Kuan also faced traffic snarls.

Slow moving traffic due to water logging was also witnessed under Rao Tula Ram Flyover and Munirka.

The overflow of the sewer pipeline resulted in the traffic jam at Burfkhana Chowk at Filmistan. The breakdown of vehicles as in the case of DTC bus at Gagan T-Point in North East Delhi resulted in freezing the traffic.