New Delhi had to deal with a major disruption to travel as Indira Gandhi International Airport had more than 300 flights delayed due to the bad weather. The national capital region experienced heavy rain along with thunderstorms, lightning, as well as strong winds, which caused a big impact on both ground and aerial transport. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing weather warnings, the storm caused a lot of trouble for both locals and tourists.

Arriving and departing passengers flying to and from Delhi Airport had to deal with long delays of their flights as a result of bad weather conditions. Although the airport tried to operate normally, the bad weather made it impossible to maintain normal schedules, which led to cascading delays throughout the day.

Widespread Disruption Due to Extreme Weather

The heavy rain started late at night and then continued the next morning, with thunderstorms along with lightning adding to the chaos. Flight tracking services like Flightradar24 reported hundreds of flights being delayed due to rain, strong winds, and the combination of unstable weather.

As the weather conditions deteriorated, the IMD issued a rain alert for the city, forecasting moderate rain, thunderstorms, and winds between 30-40 km/h. The department also issued an alert concerning critical Safety guidelines, recommending people skip outdoor activities during the storm. The IMD, as is the norm, posted reminders telling people to be careful while driving, secure loose articles lying around on balconies and rooftops, and refrain from standing under trees during lightning due to the risk of a bolt falling during the storm surge.

The weather-related events, although not heavily impacting the Delhi Airport, at the very least resulted in several flights not being able to take off, land, or be on schedule. Weather-related disruptions cascaded in a domino effect throughout the day, forcing wait times for most travelers.

Effect on Surface Transportation and Day-to-Day Activities

Apart from the air travel disruption, the storm-affected areas extended well beyond the airport. Overnight rainfall in the Delhi-NCR region, and Panchkuian Marg, Mathura Road, and Connaught Place, resulted in waterlogging. The waterlogged areas brought about terrible traffic congestion, and added to the already overburdened delays on the arterial highways, and resulted in delays for a plethora of travelers looking to navigate the city.

Locals took action by issuing home travel advisories, asking people to stay home if possible, and to minimize travel. For people who needed to leave the house, traveling through the flooded streets was difficult. Roads being flooded with rain brought the usual city noise to a standstill, which added to the agony of commuters.

Airlines Respond with Travel Advisories

Due to the weather conditions, some airlines issued advisories for passengers to help them navigate through the disruption. One of the major airlines operating out of Delhi, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, informed passengers through their social media accounts about the delays. Both airlines advised travelers to monitor the flights and adjust their travel plans as conditions worsened.

Air India was also warning travelers with a message saying the heavy rain may affect flight operations to and from Delhi. Air India was also recommending passengers to modify their plans early, as the flights and the traffic were expected to create some congestion. In spite of the disruption, the airline was focused on operational and safety efficiency for passengers during the storm.

Such proactive communication helped passengers manage their travel plans because they did not have to show up at the airport and deal with unnecessary waiting. Many travelers, for the most part, adapted to the changes, even if it meant arriving much earlier than they had originally planned.

The Situation at the Delhi Airport

Due to the extensive delays caused by the weather, the Delhi Airport continues to remain operational. To the general public, “everything was normal.” As for the airport, “normal flight operations” meant that a substantial number of flights were still being delayed. Staff were doing their utmost to streamline the essential security and boarding procedures, but the large number of delayed flights was a significant bottleneck.

In a press release, the airport’s official representative acknowledged that flight operations were continuing but advised passengers to coordinate with their respective airlines for the most current flight schedules. Alongside that, the representative added that the airport was actively trying to work with the airline’s weather-related restrictions to limit the consequences of the bad weather on flights that were meant to take off.

Even though flights were still operating, passengers were experiencing severe disruptions to their journeys due to the weather. The delays to flights arriving and departing were resulting in very long lines at the check-in counters, and customers were often left guessing as to whether their flights were going to be further delayed or canceled altogether.

IMD Issues Red Alert for Delhi

The IMD was continuously monitoring the situation and issued a red alert, meaning moderate to heavy rain was still expected for the rest of the weekend. The IMD advised the public to remain vigilant and stay out of the band of additional weather disruptions that were expected.

Local Weather authorities also warned and restricted of the creeping flooding, especially in the low-lying areas, advising people to cease all non-essential movement. Delhi has a long history of heavy rain towards the end of the tapering monsoon season, but the sheer power of this storm was astonishing, especially as it showcased the unpredictability of the region’s weather.

Conclusion

The memories from August 9, 2025, still linger, serving as a pertinent reminder of how disruptive weather can be to both air and ground travel. The storm single-handedly brought the capital to a standstill, with over 300 flights being delayed at the Delhi Airport, and the heavy rains disrupting daily activities. Airlines, the IMD, and local authorities collaborated to manage the situation, and while their efforts to keep the public informed were noted, the disruption itself was unavoidable.

As the weekend approaches, both travelers and residents alike are being warned to stay vigilant and keep track of weather updates. For travelers passing through Delhi, the storm was certainly a reminder of how critical planning, preemptive measures, and being flexible can be when dealing with weather-related events.

(Source: India Meteorological Department, Delhi Airport, Flightradar24, IANS)