Severe thunderstorm hits Delhi-NCR, brings second-highest May rainfall since 1901 and leaves 7 dead across northern India

Severe thunderstorms and strong winds struck Delhi-NCR on Friday morning, May 2, resulting in significant waterlogging. At least four deaths were reported in Delhi, with additional fatalities in other parts of North India.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert due to the extreme weather, which was later downgraded to a Yellow Alert.

Four deaths occurred in Kharkhari Nahar village near Jaffarpur Kalan in Dwarka. A woman and her three children were killed when a neem tree fell on the room they were in due to strong winds. Emergency teams from the police and fire department pulled them from the rubble and took them to Rao Tularam Memorial Hospital in Jaffarpur Kalan, where they were declared dead.

Three other people were reported dead in a separate lightning-related incident, along with multiple other injuries across the region.

The victims included two laborers in Firozabad, after a lightning struck the Shikohabad-Nanemau road. The third person, working with them, was injured and rushed to the hospital, police said. A family trying to cover a haystack with a tarpaulin sheet to protect it from rain was also hit.

A 17-year-old girl was reported dead after a lightning strike in Etah district’s Bhagwantpur village. Her younger sister suffered critical burn injuries, while her father and brother were also injured.

Delhi experienced its second-highest single-day rainfall for May since 1901, with the Safdarjung Observatory recording 77 mm (3.03 inches) between 02:30 and 08:30 local time on Friday. The highest on record remains 119.3 mm (4.7 inches) on May 20, 2021.

Lodhi Road received 78 mm (3 inches), while Palam got 45.6 mm (1.7 inches), Ridge received 59.2 mm (2.33 inches) and Ayannagar received 39.4 mm (1.5 inches) of rainfall by 08:00 LT on Friday.

The weather also caused waterlogging in several key parts of the city, including Minto Road, Dwarka, Khanpur, Lajpat Nagar, Moti Bagh, and the South Extension stretch of Ring Road. The Public Works Department said it had received 180 complaints of waterlogging by Friday noon.

Widespread damage was reported across Delhi, with numerous trees uprooted, some falling on homes, and power lines downed. In Lutyens’ Delhi, authorities received 25 reports of fallen trees and 12 complaints related to waterlogging.

A Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) spokesperson said it received 22 power cut complaints, which were restored within a few minutes to one hour.

The extreme waterlogging caused traffic disruptions across the city, with severe congestion reported on the Delhi-Gurugram expressway.

Flight schedules at Indira Gandhi International Airport were heavily disrupted, with more than 200 delays reported. Arrivals were running about 21 minutes late on average, while departures were delayed by up to an hour.

An official said two flights that were to land at the Delhi airport were diverted to Jaipur and one to Ahmedabad.

Weather officials have placed Delhi under a Yellow alert through Saturday, April 5, citing the likelihood of intense rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph).

Unseasonal hail was also reported in parts of Delhi-NCR, a rare event for this time of year.

The forecast extends beyond the capital, with similar weather expected in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.

Harsh Vardhan

My passions include trying my best to save a dying planet, be it through carpooling or by spreading awareness about it. Research comes naturally to me, complemented by a keen interest in writing and journalism. Guided by a curious mind and a drive to look beyond the surface, I strive to bring thoughtful attention and clarity to subjects across Earth, sciences, environment, and everything in between.

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