A powerful thunderstorm swept through Delhi late Friday night, turning calm skies into a tempest of lightning, heavy rain, and wind gusts that caused destruction across the city. In just a few hours, Delhi’s transport, power, and civic infrastructure were thrown into disarray.
At least four people were killed, dozens of flights were disrupted, and vast stretches of the city were inundated. While the India Meteorological Department had forecast the storm, its impact underlined the city’s chronic vulnerability to extreme weather.
Flight Diversions and Ground Delays
One of the worst-hit sectors was aviation. Between midnight and early morning, at least 49 flights were diverted from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport due to unsafe flying conditions. Gusty winds reaching up to 60 kmph, combined with poor visibility and heavy rain, made landing risky.
Domestic and international passengers were left in the dark, many unaware that their flights had been redirected until after landing. “We landed in Jaipur instead of Delhi. No information, no assistance. It was scary,” said a flier from Bengaluru.
A partial structural collapse at Terminal 3, where a roof panel was dislodged, raised questions about design safety and airport preparedness for climate events.
Capital Flooded: Civic Gaps Exposed
As daylight broke, the city resembled a floodplain. Rainwater had collected in low-lying areas and clogged drains failed to absorb the deluge. Key roads in South, West, and Central Delhi became impassable.
Flooding was reported in critical areas such as Ashram, AIIMS flyover, Ring Road, and the Dwarka sector underpasses. Emergency vehicles struggled to reach affected zones, further slowing response times.
Despite recent desilting drives by civic authorities, the storm overwhelmed Delhi’s drainage system. This sparked renewed criticism from residents who feel neglected year after year.
Dwarka Tragedy: Four Killed by Fallen Tree
In one of the most tragic outcomes of the storm, four people were killed in Kharkhari village, Dwarka, after a tree collapsed on the tin-roofed shelter they were in. The victims had taken refuge inside a tubewell structure when the tree, weakened by the storm, came crashing down.
Local authorities and emergency services responded quickly, but it was too late. The event brought to light the hidden risks posed by unmaintained trees and temporary shelters during high winds.
Power Cuts and Communication Woes
Large parts of Delhi experienced power outages, with areas like Preet Vihar, Lajpat Nagar, and Vasant Kunj among the worst affected. Trees had fallen on electric lines, shorting transformers and plunging homes into darkness for hours.
Mobile data services slowed down or stopped in some regions due to tower disruptions, and water pumps in high-rise buildings failed, leaving many without drinking water.
Climate Experts Warn of a Growing Trend
According to the IMD, the storm fits a pattern of increasingly frequent and severe weather events driven by climate change. Experts believe such storms will not only become more common but also more intense.
“We’re seeing more abrupt and violent thunderstorms in the northern plains, especially in urban centers like Delhi,” said meteorologist Dr. S. Kulkarni. “These events demand structural resilience and early warning dissemination.”
What’s Next for Delhi?
In response to the storm, Delhi’s civic bodies and the Lieutenant Governor’s office have promised to step up preparations for the monsoon. PWD officials have been directed to conduct immediate drain inspections and remove potential tree fall hazards.
Still, many Delhiites remain skeptical. “It’s the same cycle—storm hits, promises made, and then nothing changes,” said Rohit Mehra, a civil engineer. “We need a long-term urban adaptation strategy, not crisis management.”
Conclusion
Delhi’s thunderstorm disaster was not just a test of nature’s fury—it was a test of the city’s preparedness, coordination, and infrastructure. With climate risks rising and monsoon around the corner, the real storm Delhi must face is one of planning and policy inertia. If nothing changes, history is bound to repeat itself—again and again.
