A day after heavy downpour lashed Delhi and the National Capital Region, authorities on Tuesday sounded a flood warning as the Yamuna river swelled past the danger level of 205.33 metres. Officials cautioned that water levels could rise further as large volumes continue to be released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana.

Low-lying areas along the Yamuna banks were placed on high alert, with the District Magistrate of Shahdara announcing a complete halt to traffic and pedestrian movement on the Loha Pul bridge from 5 pm onwards due to the escalating water levels.

In neighbouring Gurugram, Monday evening brought chaos as the city was pounded by more than 100 mm of rain between 3 pm and 7 pm, leaving roads submerged and commuters stranded in gridlock that stretched up to 20 kilometres. The ordeal trended widely on social media, with visuals of long traffic jams and submerged vehicles dominating online platforms.

Several key stretches — including Hero Honda Chowk, Patel Nagar, Signature Bridge, and service lanes of the Dwarka Expressway — were inundated. The drainage system on parts of the expressway collapsed under the deluge, forcing authorities to close the service lane.

In response, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain on September 2. It ordered schools to switch to online classes and advised private offices to allow employees to work from home on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, officials monitoring the Yamuna said hourly water releases from Hathnikund barrage were significantly increasing the risk of flooding in Delhi’s low-lying neighbourhoods. Emergency teams remain on standby as the capital braces for more rainfall and potential waterlogging.