Heavy rain triggered a red warning across parts of Delhi-NCR on September 4, flooding airport approaches, with more storms forecast for Saturday
Heavy rain and thunderstorms in Delhi forced nine flights to divert to Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad.
The severe weather caused flooding on approach roads and the terminal forecourt at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red warning for the storm, which brought a squall with 76km/h gusts and rainfall of up to 72.2mm in three hours.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms forced nine flights bound for Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to divert on Friday, September 4, 2026, while flooding airport approaches and residential streets across parts of the Indian capital.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red warning for heavy rain in parts of Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region, known as Delhi-NCR. Further rain and thunderstorms were forecast for Saturday, September 5.
Four flights were diverted to Jaipur, four to Lucknow and one to Ahmedabad between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Friday, according to the report carried by India Today. All times are local.
Airport officials said standing water on an approach road and the terminal forecourt was drained shortly afterwards, with teams working to maintain smooth operations.
Flights diverted to Lucknow
The four Delhi-bound services diverted to Lucknow were:
QP1821, Bengaluru–Delhi: arrived at 4.37pm.
AI484, Ludhiana–Delhi: arrived at 4.50pm and departed at 5.51pm.
AI2516, Indore–Delhi: arrived at 4.58pm.
AI2541, Hyderabad–Delhi: arrived at 5.06pm.
Beyond the airport, heavy rain flooded several parts of west Delhi, including Gandhi Market in Sagarpur. Streets in villages and residential neighbourhoods were submerged.
The initial report said there had not yet been reports of major-road flooding or severe traffic build-ups. Rain was still falling across several areas at 5.40pm, however, raising concerns that prolonged downpours could worsen waterlogging and disrupt travel in west Delhi.
Palam records 72.2mm in three hours
Palam recorded the highest rainfall among the capital’s reporting stations between 2.30pm and 5.30pm on Friday, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre in New Delhi.
Rainfall during that three-hour period was:
Palam: 72.2mm.
Narayana: 54mm.
Janakpuri: 48.5mm.
Lodhi Road: 34.6mm.
Safdarjung: 32.6mm.
Pusa: 29mm.
Jharoda Kalan: 25mm.
Ridge: 20mm.
Chhatarpur: 15mm.
Ayanagar: 12mm.
A two-minute squall also hit Palam airport between 3.37pm and 3.39pm, bringing gusts of up to 76km/h, the IMD said. Humidity rose from 86% to 90%, while the temperature fell from 26°C to 25.5°C.
Friday had begun under largely cloudy skies. The forecast for Safdarjung had put the maximum temperature at around 32°C, with moderate rain, while the local afternoon outlook included thunderstorms, lightning and moderate to heavy rainfall.
The IMD forecast heavy rain on September 5 across the Haryana–Chandigarh–Delhi meteorological subdivision. Delhi’s local forecast indicated moderate rain, thunderstorms and lightning in several areas.
Western Uttar Pradesh, which includes parts of the National Capital Region, was also covered by a heavy-rain warning for September 4 and 5.
The wet weather was associated with an active monsoon system over northern and central India. The IMD identified a well-marked low-pressure area over north-eastern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas that was bringing significant rainfall to parts of central India and was expected to continue influencing regional conditions.
Cloud, rain and thunderstorms were forecast to persist across Delhi-NCR into Saturday before easing. In the forecast cited by the report, no heavy-rain warning was in place for Delhi from September 6 onwards, although light showers remained possible.
