Delhi rains: 18 flights cancelled, waterlogging hits IGI Airport for 2nd day
Synopsis
For the second consecutive day, Delhi's monsoon exposed the capital's chronic drainage failure — 18 flights cancelled, 146 delayed, and arterial roads from Connaught Place to AIIMS submerged. With Ayanagar recording 66% above-normal rainfall this season, this is not a freak event but a recurring infrastructure reckoning.
Key Takeaways
At least 18 flights were cancelled and 146 delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, 25 August due to heavy rain.
On Monday , disruptions were worse: 26 flights cancelled , 15 diverted , and more than 390 delayed .
Waterlogging was reported at AIIMS , ITO , Connaught Place , Copernicus Marg , and Rajaji Marg , among others.
Ayanagar recorded 266.3 mm of rainfall — 66% above normal; Safdarjung logged 29% excess as of 24 August .
Gurugram's DDMA ordered work-from-home for corporates, government offices, and private schools on Tuesday.
Heavy rain lashed New Delhi and the wider NCR region on Tuesday, 25 August, triggering widespread waterlogging, severe traffic congestion, and a second consecutive day of disruptions at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. According to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24, at least 18 flights were cancelled and 146 services delayed due to the adverse weather.
Key Areas Hit by Waterlogging
Rainwater accumulated across several critical junctions and arterial roads, including Kushak Road, Rajokri village, ITO, Copernicus Marg, Connaught Place, and Rajaji Marg. Commuters reported significant delays as vehicles crawled through inundated stretches.
Areas near Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, AIIMS, Ashoka Road, and the Supreme Court also saw severe waterlogging. Near AIIMS, a flyover loop was submerged under intense rainfall, creating long vehicle queues and near-gridlock conditions.
Second Straight Day of Flight Disruptions
Tuesday's airport chaos followed an even more disruptive Monday, when 26 flights were cancelled, 15 diverted to other cities, and more than 390 delayed at IGI Airport. The back-to-back disruptions have drawn attention to the airport's vulnerability to sustained monsoon spells and the broader inadequacy of Delhi's drainage infrastructure during peak rainfall events.
Rainfall Figures Well Above Normal
The intensity of this monsoon spell is reflected in cumulative data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Till 24 August, Safdarjung — Delhi's primary weather reference station — recorded 246.2 mm of rainfall against a seasonal normal of 191.1 mm, an excess of 29%. Palam logged 227.2 mm, 28% above normal, while Lodi Road recorded 233.2 mm, an excess of 22%.
The Ridge observatory recorded 243 mm — 50% above normal — and Ayanagar received 266.3 mm, a striking 66% surplus over its seasonal average. This is the highest above-normal reading among Delhi's major weather stations this season.
Gurugram Orders Work-From-Home
In the wake of Monday's downpour, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) of Gurugram directed corporate offices, government departments, and private educational institutions to shift to work-from-home and remote-learning arrangements on Tuesday. The directive was issued amid concerns that continued rain could further compromise commuting routes and choke major arterial roads across the city.
Parts of Noida also experienced significant waterlogging on Monday, extending the disruption across the NCR belt. With above-normal rainfall expected to continue, residents and commuters across the region face further disruption in the days ahead.
Point of View
And the annual cycle of waterlogged flyovers and stranded commuters points to a structural gap between capital expenditure announcements and on-ground execution. The above-normal rainfall figures at Ayanagar and Ridge are significant, but they are not unprecedented; what is telling is that even moderate excess triggers near-paralysis. Until stormwater capacity is genuinely upgraded — not just budgeted — Delhi will replay this disruption every monsoon season.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many flights were cancelled at Delhi airport due to rain on 25 August?
At least 18 flights were cancelled and 146 services were delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, 25 August, according to flight-tracking platform Flightradar24. This was the second consecutive day of major flight disruptions caused by heavy rain.
Which areas in Delhi saw the worst waterlogging on 25 August?
Severe waterlogging was reported at Kushak Road, Rajokri village, ITO, Copernicus Marg, Connaught Place, Rajaji Marg, areas near AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Ashoka Road, and the Supreme Court. Near AIIMS, a flyover loop was submerged, causing near-gridlock traffic conditions.
How does Delhi's 2025 monsoon rainfall compare to normal levels?
As of 24 August, Delhi's rainfall was significantly above normal across all major observatories. Ayanagar recorded the highest surplus at 66% above normal (266.3 mm), while Safdarjung — the primary reference station — was 29% above normal at 246.2 mm.
Why did Gurugram issue a work-from-home order on 25 August?
The Gurugram District Disaster Management Authority directed corporate offices, government departments, and private educational institutions to switch to work-from-home and remote learning on Tuesday following Monday's severe waterlogging. The move was aimed at reducing commuter risk on the city's major arterial roads.
What happened at Delhi airport on Monday, the day before?
On Monday, 24 August, flight disruptions at IGI Airport were even more severe — 26 flights were cancelled, 15 were diverted to other cities, and more than 390 services were delayed due to heavy rain across Delhi-NCR.
