Heavy overnight showers drenched Delhi and its surrounding NCR region from Friday night into early Saturday, leaving large parts of the city struggling with waterlogging, traffic gridlocks, and widespread travel disruption.

Key arterial roads, including Moti Bagh, Ranjeet Nagar, ITO, and Panchkuian Marg, were clogged with long queues of vehicles as commuters battled knee-deep water in several stretches. Water also collected along Mathura Road and outside Bharat Mandapam’s Gate No. 7, slowing movement in and around the area.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast “thunderstorm with rain” for Saturday, with the mercury expected to range between 27°C (minimum) and 36°C (maximum).

With Raksha Bandhan adding to weekend rush, Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory urging people to avoid old GT Road, warning that heavy rains had caused significant waterlogging at GTK Depot, Jahangirpuri, and Adarsh Nagar. Metro services remained unaffected, with police recommending commuters use the network to bypass road congestion.

“To avoid congestion, commuters are advised to avoid taking old GT Road. Delhi Metro services are operational and can help minimize travel disruptions. Please plan your route accordingly,” the advisory stated.

Air travel also faced a major setback. By Saturday morning, at least 135 flights to and from Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed, according to data from Flightradar. No diversions were reported, but airlines warned passengers to plan ahead.

IndiGo advised travellers to leave early, take alternate routes, and check flight status before heading to the airport.

SpiceJet issued a similar warning, noting that departures, arrivals, and connecting flights could all be impacted by the weather.