IMD Red Alert: Heavy Rain Kills 4 in Delhi-NCR, More Storms Ahead Across India

Delhi-NCR experienced thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rainfall on the morning of May 2, with some parts also witnessing hailstorms.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for May 2, predicting severe thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds reaching 70-80 kmph, according to Business Standard.

Impact and Damage

According to ANI, four people, including a woman and her three children died after a house collapsed in Delhi. “We received a call regarding a house collapse in Kharkari Nahar village in Najafgarh at 5.25 am. Multiple rescue teams were deployed and the bodies were recovered from the rubble, a Delhi Fire Services official told The Hindu.

Severe waterlogging was reported in several parts of the Delhi-NCR, including Dwarka Underpass, South Extensions, Ring Road, Minto Road, RK Puram and Lajpat Nagar, reported TOI. A metal structure also reportedly collapsed at Terminal-3 of the Delhi Airport due to the storm.

According to Business Standard, more than 40 flights were diverted and nearly 100 delayed, with three flights rerouted to Jaipur and Ahmedabad including Bangalore-Delhi and Pune-Delhi services.

Delhi International Airport Limited also issued advisory informing passengers about the delay in flight services due to the weather.

Forecast for India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the inclement weather is likely to continue for the next few days. The IMD has warned of isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning & strong winds speed reaching 40-60 kmph across Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan from May 2 to May 6.

IMD also predicted thundersqualls with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph and gusting to 70 kmph are likely at isolated places over Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan on May 2.

In Eastern and Central India, scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds at speeds reaching 40-50 kmph and gusting to 60 kmph is likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal & Sikkim till May 3 and over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh till May 5.

In Southern India, isolated to scattered light/moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & strong winds is likely over Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Kerala and Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal over the next seven days.

The Northeast states can expect widespread light/moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds at speeds reaching 30-40 kmph and gusting to 50 kmph through May 6. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya on May 5.