The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, India’s busiest aviation hub, descended into chaos on July 7, 2025, as torrential monsoon rains battered Delhi-NCR, disrupting flight operations and paralyzing roads leading to the airport. The relentless downpour, coupled with a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), brought the capital’s skies and streets to a standstill, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and commuters grappling with flooded roads. As Delhi reels from the deluge, this article unpacks the causes, consequences, and broader implications of the disruption at IGI and its surrounding infrastructure.
The Deluge: A Monsoon Onslaught
The IMD had forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across North India, placing Delhi-NCR under an orange alert for July 7, with warnings of thunderstorms and potential flooding. By Monday evening, the situation escalated, prompting a red alert as rainfall exceeded 100 mm in parts of the city. The downpour overwhelmed Delhi’s drainage systems, flooding key roads like the IGI Airport access routes, Gurugram-Delhi Expressway, and NH-48. Waterlogging at Terminal 3’s forecourt and nearby areas compounded the misery, making travel to and from the airport a logistical nightmare.
The IMD attributed the intense rainfall to a combination of a strong monsoon trough and a cyclonic circulation over Haryana. “Delhi-NCR is experiencing an unusually active monsoon phase, with multiple weather systems converging over the region,” said Dr. Sumanth Roy, a senior meteorologist at IMD. “This has led to prolonged heavy rain, which our infrastructure is struggling to handle.”
Flight Operations Grounded
At IGI Airport, the heavy rains triggered widespread disruptions. Over 100 flights were delayed, and at least 15 were diverted to nearby airports like Jaipur, Lucknow, and Amritsar due to poor visibility and waterlogged runways. IndiGo, one of the largest operators at IGI, issued a travel advisory urging passengers to arrive early and consider using the Delhi Metro to avoid road delays. “Runway operations were briefly halted for safety checks, and low visibility procedures were enforced,” said a spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). “We’re working round-the-clock to restore normalcy.”
Passengers faced hours-long delays, with many venting their frustration at overcrowded terminals. “I was supposed to fly to Mumbai at 6 PM, but my flight is delayed by four hours,” said Anjali Verma, a business traveler at Terminal 3. “The roads to the airport were a mess, and now we’re stuck here with no clear updates.” Social media was abuzz with images of flooded terminal approaches and chaotic check-in counters, though authorities urged calm and promised swift action.
The ongoing maintenance of Runway 28/10, which began in June and is set to continue until September, exacerbated the situation. With one of IGI’s primary runways closed, the airport’s capacity to handle disruptions was already strained, leading to a backlog of flights. “The runway maintenance is critical for long-term safety, but it’s unfortunate that it’s coinciding with this monsoon chaos,” said aviation analyst Vikram Sethi.
Roads to Ruin: Waterlogging Woes
The roads leading to IGI Airport, particularly the stretch from Mahipalpur to Terminal 3, were inundated, stranding commuters and delaying airport staff. Videos circulating online showed vehicles wading through knee-deep water, with taxis and buses struggling to navigate flooded underpasses. The Gurugram-Delhi Expressway, a key artery for airport-bound travelers, reported hour-long traffic snarls due to waterlogging near Shiv Murti.
The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories, diverting vehicles to alternate routes like the Dwarka Expressway, but these too were congested. “We’re coordinating with civic agencies to pump out water, but the volume of rainfall has overwhelmed our resources,” said a traffic police official. The Delhi Metro, particularly the Airport Express Line, emerged as a lifeline, with DIAL and DMRC urging passengers to opt for metro services to bypass road chaos.
This isn’t the first time IGI’s access routes have been crippled by rain. On June 28, 2024, a similar deluge caused a tragic roof collapse at Terminal 1, injuring six people and damaging vehicles. The incident exposed vulnerabilities in the airport’s infrastructure, prompting DIAL to fast-track drainage upgrades. However, Monday’s chaos suggests that these measures are yet to fully address the problem.
A City Under Water
Beyond the airport, Delhi-NCR’s broader infrastructure buckled under the rain’s intensity. Low-lying areas like Minto Bridge and Okhla Underpass were submerged, disrupting daily commutes and stranding school buses. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deployed pumps to clear water, but clogged drains and encroachments slowed progress. “Our drainage systems were designed for a different era. They can’t handle the volume and intensity of modern monsoon rains,” admitted an MCD official.
The IMD’s red alert, which warned of thunderstorms and potential flash floods, prompted schools to shift to online classes and offices to adopt work-from-home policies. Hospitals reported a spike in waterborne disease cases, with health officials urging residents to boil drinking water and avoid wading through stagnant pools.
Systemic Failures and Climate Challenges
Monday’s chaos at IGI and across Delhi-NCR underscores deeper systemic issues. Urban planners have long warned that Delhi’s rapid expansion, coupled with inadequate drainage and unchecked construction, amplifies its vulnerability to monsoon flooding. “Encroachments on natural water channels and poor urban planning are choking the city,” said Dr. Priya Malhotra, an urban studies expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University. “Airports like IGI are critical infrastructure, but their surroundings are as important as the terminals themselves.”
Climate change is also playing a role, with experts noting that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. “Delhi’s monsoon patterns are shifting, with shorter but heavier bursts of rain,” said Dr. Roy. “This puts immense pressure on infrastructure that hasn’t been upgraded to cope with climate realities.”
Response and Recovery
DIAL has promised to expedite drainage improvements around IGI, including the installation of high-capacity pumps and the clearing of stormwater channels. The Delhi government, under Chief Minister Atishi, announced a Rs. 10 crore fund for immediate flood relief and infrastructure repairs. “We’re working with DIAL and civic agencies to ensure such disruptions are minimized,” Atishi said in a statement.
The Delhi Traffic Police and MCD have set up 24/7 control rooms to manage complaints and coordinate relief efforts. Meanwhile, airlines are offering passengers flexible rebooking options, with IndiGo and Air India waiving change fees for affected flights. “We’re doing everything to support passengers during this challenging time,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.
Looking Ahead: Lessons from the Deluge
The chaos at IGI Airport and Delhi’s roads is a stark reminder of the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather. As the monsoon season continues, with the IMD forecasting more rain in the coming weeks, authorities face mounting pressure to act. Long-term solutions, such as upgrading drainage systems, enforcing stricter urban planning regulations, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, are critical to preventing future disruptions.
For now, travelers to IGI are advised to check flight statuses, use the Delhi Metro where possible, and plan for extra travel time. As Delhi grapples with the aftermath of Monday’s rains, the focus must shift to building a city and an airport that can weather the storms of tomorrow.
Also Read: Delhi Shaken: What You Need to Know About Today’s Earthquake Tremors
Last Updated on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 7:36 pm by Hemang Warudkar | Published by: Hemang Warudkar on Saturday, July 12, 2025 7:35 pm | News Categories: India, Latest, News
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