Delhi gets rain; respite from heat to continue

Heavy pre-monsoon showers and gusts of wind brought respite from scorching heat and humidity to the national capital on Monday and weather analysts predict this situation will continue. The rain, however, disrupted traffic and caused water-logging at several places.

"It will be generally cloudy sky on Tuesday. Rain and thundershower may occur at many places with squall at one or two places in the region. Respite from heat will continue," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.

Light to moderate rain was reported in almost every area of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Private weather forecaster Skymet's director Mahesh Palawat said that due to estrous wind, CB clouds (thunderous clouds) are formed over the region and when the heat goes up it rains for a few hours.

"This would continue for next few days till the monsoon arrives in Delhi by June 30," Palawat told IANS.

According to the weather office, the maximum temperature in the city settled at 38.6 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the season. After the rain, the temperature dropped from 38.4 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius.

The weather office said that 9.2 mm rain was measured between 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. at Safdarjung and 3.2 mm rain in the Lodhi Road region in south Delhi.

Delhi witnessed the maximum 31 mm rain at Aya Nagar in south Delhi while Palam region closer to the airport recorded just 2.8 mm rain.

The Met office said that the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 37 and 30 degrees Celsius respectively on Tuesday.

The relative humidity on Monday oscillated between 63 and 94 per cent.

Monday's minimum temperature was recorded at 30.5 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average.

Sunday's maximum temperature settled at 40.1 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 30.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average.

The rain brought respite to people from the sweltering heat. Many people came out of their homes to enjoy the showers. A few climbed to the roof tops to get drenched.

"It was much needed rain as the weather was becoming unbearable," said Yogesh Gupta, a resident of Karol Bagh in the heart of Delhi.

Though the pre-monsoon showers made the weather pleasant, it derailed traffic movement across several stretches in the city.

The downpour resulted in water-logging in various areas of the national capital resulting in traffic chaos.

According to the Delhi traffic control room, vehicular movement was affected due to water-logging at 100 ft. road in south Delhi, near Rao Tula Ram Marg flyover, Moti Bagh flyover, near Sarai Kale Khan on Ashram-ITO carriageway, on IIT-Mehrauli road, GGR-PDR Road, South Extension, ITO, near Chhattarpur metro station ant at Loni crossing in east Delhi.

People had a harrowing time because of the traffic jams.

"There was water-logging all around due to which I remained stuck in the jam for over half an hour near Moti Bagh flyover in south Delhi," Ashutosh Singh, a government employee, told IANS.

--IANS

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