Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport were affected on Friday as a spell of intense rain and thunderstorms swept across the national capital. Between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, nine flights were diverted from Delhi, according to sources.

Of the nine flights, four were diverted to Jaipur, four to Lucknow and one to Ahmedabad as weather conditions made operations at the Delhi airport difficult.

Four flights were diverted to Lucknow Airport. IndiGo flight QP 1821, operating from Bengaluru to Delhi, reached Lucknow at 4:37 pm. Air India flight AI 484 from Ludhiana landed at 4:50 pm and later departed at 5:51 pm. Air India flights AI 2516 from Indore and AI 2541 from Hyderabad reached Lucknow at 4:58 pm and 5:06 pm, respectively.

The heavy rainfall also resulted in water accumulation at the airport. Delhi Airport said water had collected in areas around the approach road and forecourt following the intense spell of rain. Airport authorities subsequently cleared the accumulated water and said efforts were continuing to ensure that operations remained smooth.

Heavy rain across Delhi-NCR

The downpour was not limited to the airport area. Several parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, while the India Meteorological Department had issued a red warning for heavy rainfall in parts of the region.

West Delhi saw waterlogging in several locations. Gandhi Market in Sagarpur was among the areas affected, while roads in some residential colonies were inundated following the rain.

Despite the waterlogging, there were no immediate reports of major traffic disruption on key roads at the time of the report.

Palam records 72.2 mm rain

Palam recorded the highest rainfall in Delhi during the three-hour period from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, receiving 72.2 mm of rain, according to data from the Regional Meteorological Centre, New Delhi.

Narayana recorded 54 mm, while Janakpuri received 48.5 mm. Lodhi Road and Safdarjung recorded 34.6 mm and 32.6 mm, respectively.

Pusa recorded 29 mm of rainfall, followed by Jharoda Kalan at 25 mm, Ridge at 20 mm, Chhatarpur at 15 mm and Ayanagar at 12 mm.

The weather was accompanied by strong winds at Palam Airport. The IMD recorded a brief squall between 3:37 pm and 3:39 pm, with wind speeds touching 76 kmph. During the spell, humidity increased from 86 per cent to 90 per cent, while the temperature dropped from 26°C to 25.5°C.

More rain likely on Saturday

The unsettled weather is expected to continue into Saturday. The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall over the Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi region on September 5, with thunderstorms and lightning also likely across parts of Delhi.

West Uttar Pradesh, which includes several NCR areas, is also under a heavy-rain warning for September 4 and 5.

The ongoing spell has been linked to an active monsoon system and a well-marked low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas.

Rainfall intensity is expected to reduce from September 6, although light rain or drizzle may continue over Delhi.