Heaviest July rain in 21 years floods Delhi

The Capital received its heaviest deluge for a July day in 21 years on Saturday when 126.1mm of rain was recorded between 8.30am and 5.30pm, bringing chaos to the Capital's streets and prompting the India Meteorological Department to issue a red alert in the afternoon.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok and Soumya Pillai

The Delhi Traffic Police issued a situation alert at 3.30pm saying there was waterlogging at 56 locations that disrupted traffic, fallen trees that partially or completely blocked seven stretches, and major underpasses and low-lying stretches, such as under the Minto Bridge, the Pragati Maidan tunnel and the Kalindi Kunj underpass were flooded.

Saturday's rain- classified in the 'very heavy' category was the consequence of monsoon winds interacting with a western disturbance, IMD officials said, which triggered precipitation across much of north-west India.

"If a 24-hour period was considered, then this is the highest single day rainfall at Safdarjung in July since 133.4mm was recorded on July 10, 2003. With Saturday's rain coming in just nine hours, it is possible that even this figure gets eclipsed by 8:30 am on Sunday morning," said a Met department official. IMD's 24-hour period is from 8:30 am until 8:30 am the next day and the IMD says more rain is likely in early hours of Sunday and overnight.