Delhi-NCR heavy rain: Old Yamuna bridge shut, Gurugram issues WFH advisory, Noida braces for flood risks

IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (@AnshulGarg1986)

The National Capital Region (NCR) was battered by heavy rains on Monday, plunging Delhi and its adjoining districts Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad into turmoil. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the region, while Gurugram is placed under a warning for very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms on Tuesday.

Traffic comes to a halt

The downpour left roads waterlogged, causing massive traffic snarls. Long queues of vehicles were seen inching forward across major stretches, particularly underpasses and low-lying areas in Delhi-NCR. Videos from across the region captured images of cars and buses struggling through flooded roads.

Major arterial roads across the national capital witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic, particularly in South Delhi and along key Ring Road stretches. Flooded streets in areas like Mahatma Gandhi Road, NH-48, Captain Gaur Marg, and parts of Pitampura and Vasant Vihar caused severe congestion, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Gurugram hit hardest

Gurugram bore the brunt of the storm, recording over 100 mm of rainfall in just four hours between 3 pm and 7 pm on Monday. Visuals of the Signature Tower Chowk underpass submerged in water and reports of a leakage at a city flyover highlighted the severity of the situation.

2 hours of rain = 20 KMs of Gurgaon Jam!

As CM Nayab Saini only flies in “State Helicopter” and doesn’t travel on “road”, this is a “helicopter shot” of Highway in Gurgaon just now.

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So much for the rain preparedness and crores and crores of public money spent on drainage,… pic.twitter.com/HCNPYZkG2c

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 1, 2025

The Gurugram district administration on Monday issued a work-from-home advisory for private offices and advised schools to conduct online classes for Tuesday.

"In view of the above forecast, all Corporate offices and Private institutions in the district are advised to guide their employees to work from home; and all schools in the district are advised to conduct Online classes on 02-09-2025," it added.

7-km long traffic on Delhi-Jaipur highway

With cars queuing almost bumper-to-bumper, the traffic jam on the Delhi-Jaipur highway stretched up to 7-8 kilometres and people were stuck for over 3 hours after heavy rain hit Gurugram.

Traffic advisory from Delhi Police

Delhi police issued a traffic advisory mentioning that the traffic movement will be regulated on Road No 224, Road No 205, Road No 221, Golf Link Road and UER-II from 06.00 am to 03.00 pm on September 2nd and 3rd. “Commuters are advised to avoid these stretches and plan their journeys with sufficient time in hand. Use public transport, follow diversion signs & obey traffic personnel on duty,” the advisory read.

Metro services disrupted

Delhi Metro services were not spared as well. Technical glitches hit the Blue and Yellow lines, leading to overcrowding at key interchange stations like Rajiv Chowk. This was the third technical snag in just a week, which led to the commuter woes and forcing many to wait in long queues for delayed trains.

Flood fears loom over Yamuna

The Irrigation and Flood Control Department of Delhi has issued a flood warning after the discharge from Haryana’s Hathnikund barrage crossed 3.22 lakh cusecs, the highest release this monsoon season. Officials said the Yamuna could cross the danger mark of 205.33 metres at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB), potentially rising to around 206 metres due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.

In response, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) ordered the closure of the Old Railway Bridge over the Yamuna from 5 pm on Tuesday. Authorities directed sector officers to remain vigilant and prepare for evacuation if required. “People residing within the river embankments shall be warned and shifted to safer places,” the official warning stated.

Air travel hit

The downpour also threw air travel into disarray. Over 95 arrivals and more than 350 departures were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet issued travel advisories, urging passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

“Heads up, Delhi travellers! Due to today’s downpour, several roads across Delhi are currently blocked or experiencing slow movement. Please allow extra time, take an alternate route if possible, and check your flight status on our website or app before leaving for the airport. Our teams are working to keep things on track and support your journey. Thank you for continued trust and patience,” Indigo wrote in a post on X.

Noida prepares for flood risks

Noida authorities also braced for possible flooding as water levels in the Yamuna rose. Officials compared the discharge from Hathnikund to levels seen during the 2023 floods. Sanjay Kumar Khatri, ACEO of Noida, confirmed that 800 cows from a 135-hectare gaushala were relocated to safer ground. Announcements were made urging residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate, while teams were deployed on the ground for constant monitoring.

Government’s assurances

Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma posted on X: “I want to assure every citizen — there is no need to panic. Delhi Govt is on high alert, teams are on the ground, and we are fully committed to safeguarding every Delhiite.”