Heavy rain returns to Delhi-NCR, red alert and flight disruptions

New Delhi, August 25, 2026 — Heavy rain returned to Delhi and the National Capital Region on Tuesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department to keep a red alert in force for the capital. Moderate to heavy rain was forecast at many places, with isolated extremely heavy spells possible.

Schools and many shops remained shut. In Gurugram at least twelve school buses were submerged, leaving children stranded for hours. Authorities issued a work-from-home advisory for corporate offices and educational institutions. Traffic moved at a crawl across low-lying stretches.

Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded more than ninety delayed flights and fifteen cancellations by mid-morning according to flight-tracking data. Airport authorities had not issued a formal statement by early afternoon. The monsoon has already pushed cumulative rainfall well above normal at several Delhi observatories.

Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds were also expected. Neighbouring districts of Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad remained under yellow or orange alerts. The weather office warned that the wet spell could continue into Wednesday.

The latest bout of rain follows repeated waterlogging episodes this monsoon season. Drainage systems across the capital region have again been exposed as inadequate for the intensity of current rainfall. Local administrations face pressure to restore normal movement before the next spell arrives.

For residents the immediate concern is road safety and the risk of short circuits and flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods. For the aviation sector the priority is clearing the backlog of delayed and cancelled flights once the weather eases. The IMD continues to monitor the system feeding the current rains across north and east India.