Unseasonal rainfall and thunderstorms have caught the national capital, Delhi, off guard, disrupting normal life and causing concerns ahead of the Budget Session. The unexpected downpour began on Wednesday morning, leading to waterlogging and traffic disruptions in various parts of the city. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Interim Budget before Parliament on February 1, Thursday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast predicting continued rainfall in specific areas of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) over the next few hours.
The weather agency has identified areas in Delhi and the NCR that are likely to witness thunderstorms and rainfall in the coming hours. These areas include Narela, Alipur, Vivek Vihar, Jafarpur, Najafgarh, Palam, Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, and Mahrauli within Delhi. In the NCR region, locations such as Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Rajaund, Safidon, Barwala, Jind, Panipat, Gohana, Gannaur, Meham, Sonipat, Rohtak, Kharkhoda, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Nuh (Haryana), Baraut, Meerut, Khekra, Modinagar, Amroha, Garhmukteshwar, Pilakhua, Hapur, Gulaoti, Siyana, Sambhal, Billari, Chandausi, Bulandshahar, Jahangirabad, Bahajoi (UP), and Bhiwari (Rajasthan) are likely to experience rainfall.
The IMD’s prediction underscores the challenges faced by Delhi residents due to the combination of unexpected rainfall and the ongoing harsh winter conditions. The heavy downpour has led to road blockages and waterlogging, exacerbating the difficulties for the city’s inhabitants. The weather department anticipates moderate rainfall in additional areas such as Moradabad, Rampur, Iglas, Raya, Hathras, and Mathura.
IMD’s Wednesday prediction indicated that a weather system was moving across Delhi, causing light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. The forecast suggests that one patch of rainfall is currently affecting Delhi, resulting in unpredictable weather conditions.
Looking ahead, the IMD expects light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Delhi. Additionally, isolated to scattered rainfall is anticipated over Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan during January 31 and February 1. However, the IMD notes that no cold wave conditions are expected over any part of the country during the next five days.
As Delhi navigates through these unusual weather conditions, the focus is on the potential impact on daily life, transportation, and the upcoming Budget Session. Residents are advised to stay informed about the latest weather updates and exercise caution due to the unanticipated rainfall and thunderstorms. The weather developments add an extra layer of complexity to an already challenging winter season in the capital.
