Delhi's Heatwave Eases with Rain but Sparks Waterlogging Chaos

A brief spell of rain in Delhi brought some relief from the ongoing heatwave by lowering temperatures to 40.4 degrees Celsius. However, the downpour caused waterlogging and uprooting of trees in several areas, leading to traffic issues. The India Meteorological Department predicts more relief over the weekend.

A brief spell of rain in Delhi on Friday brought much-needed relief from the ongoing heatwave, with the city's maximum temperature dropping to 40.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above the seasonal norm, according to officials.

The rainfall, coupled with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph, led to waterlogging in multiple areas and uprooted trees, causing traffic disruptions, as reported by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

The city's adjoining NCR regions experienced similar light to moderate-intensity rains during the evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts further relief from the extreme heat over the weekend, with partly cloudy skies expected on Saturday and Sunday.

By 6 pm on Friday, at least 13 areas in Delhi experienced waterlogging, and nine cases of uprooted trees were reported to the civic body's control room. Areas affected included Karol Bagh, South zone, Shahdara North and South zones, and Narela.

Public Works Department (PWD) officials received waterlogging complaints from Azadpur underpass and Kashmere Gate. The Azadpur issue was resolved within 10-15 minutes, while Kashmere Gate took 30-35 minutes to clear, according to officials.

The drop in temperature on Friday offered some respite from the scorching heat that has plagued Delhi, keeping officials busy implementing relief measures. The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.4 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this time of the year, the Meteorological Office stated.

The relative humidity fluctuated between 70 and 71 percent throughout the day. The IMD noted that the heatwave conditions had subsided due to a western disturbance and lower-level easterlies from the Bay of Bengal. Delhi has been grappling with an intense heatwave and a severe water crisis. Over the past five days, the bodies of more than 50 people were found in and around Delhi, but police have yet to confirm if the deaths were heat-related.

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