Rain, traffic snarls disrupt Capital amid Kanwar Yatra

Cloudy skies and rain shrouded the national capital on Tuesday, with several parts of the city reporting traffic snarls amid rainfall, traffic restrictions and movements linked to the Kanwar Yatra, which concludes today. Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, Safdarjung recorded 4 mm of rainfall, while Palam, Lodi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar received 1.4 mm, 1.5 mm, 3.7 mm and 1.6 mm, respectively.

Pusa recorded 3 mm, Najafgarh 1.5 mm and Mayur Vihar 3 mm during the period, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Traffic congestion was noted on several major routes, including NH-24, Ashram, and Safdarjung flyover, as well as Kashmiri Gate, ITO, Mathura Road, Vikas Marg, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, GT Road, and the Delhi-Haridwar highway.

The congestion was attributed to multiple factors, including the rain, ongoing traffic restrictions, and the Kanwar Yatra. In the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, Safdarjung recorded 4 mm of rainfall, while Lodi Road and Ridge received 4.8 mm and 6.9 mm, respectively.

Palam and Ayanagar recorded trace rainfall. Rajghat recorded 10.6 mm, Pusa 4 mm and Mayur Vihar 38 mm during the same period.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 31.4 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees below normal, while Palam recorded 30.7 degrees Celsius, 3.7 degrees below normal. Lodi Road recorded a maximum of 31.1 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees below normal, while Ridge and Ayanagar recorded 30.7 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees and 4.2 degrees below normal, respectively.

The minimum temperature was 26 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, one degree below normal; 24.6 degrees Celsius at Palam, 2.1 degrees below normal; 26 degrees Celsius at Lodi Road, normal; 23.3 degrees Celsius at Ridge, 2.6 degrees below normal; and 26.7 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, 0.6 degrees above normal.

The IMD has forecast light rain or drizzle in the national capital till August 17. For Wednesday, the weather office has forecast generally cloudy skies with light rain or drizzle.

The minimum temperature is expected to settle at 25 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is likely to be around 35 degrees Celsius.