Heavy rainfall battered Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic congestion and road damage, prompting Gurugram Police to appeal to corporate offices and private establishments to allow employees to work from home over the next few days.

The advisory comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for Delhi and Gurugram, forecasting moderate rainfall, while neighbouring Ghaziabad remained under an orange alert amid continuing downpours.

Gurugram Police issue WFH advisory

In a post on X, Gurugram Police urged companies to reduce road congestion by allowing employees to work remotely wherever feasible.

“To ensure public safety and reduce unnecessary traffic, we strongly urge the corporate sector and private establishments to allow their employees to work from home for the next few days,” the police said.

Authorities also issued a traffic advisory after a section of the main carriageway on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-48) near Narsinghpur caved in due to heavy rain, forcing the closure of two lanes.

Several parts of Delhi, Gurugram and other NCR cities witnessed massive traffic snarls and waterlogging, with civic agencies working to restore normal movement.

Floods, landslides and fatalities reported across states

The impact of the active monsoon was felt across several parts of the country.

In Maharashtra, at least 10 people have died in Palghar district since July 1, including three deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Separately, three teenagers drowned in a water-filled quarry near Amalner in Jalgaon district while reportedly attempting to take a selfie, according to PTI.

In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a scientific study to determine why trees collapse during the monsoon, including whether ongoing road concretisation weakens tree roots. The civic body also said annual inspection, maintenance and mapping of manholes will begin from January to improve monsoon preparedness.

Dark storm clouds gather over Delhi before heavy rain.
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Heavy rain and thunderstorms to batter Delhi-NCR today | ANI

In Kerala, rescue operations continued in Wayanad after a landslide left three people dead and more than nine missing. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire services and other government agencies are carrying out search operations. According to ANI, Chief Minister VD Satheesan is expected to visit the affected area.

In Himachal Pradesh, a cloudburst struck Kullu district on Tuesday, washing away culverts and small bridges built over a local drain. No casualties were reported, according to PTI.

Centre reviews monsoon, says rainfall deficit narrows

Despite worries about the possible El Niño effect, the Centre has said that India’s deficit of rainfall has now come down to 12 per cent, as there was above-normal activity of monsoon in the first week of July.

Gurugram: Vehicles move through a waterlogged area amid rainfall, in Gurugram on Sunday. (ANI Video Grab)
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Gurugram: Vehicles move through a waterlogged area amid rainfall, in Gurugram on Sunday. (ANI Video Grab)

PTI says that a high-level meeting headed by the PM’s Principal Secretary PK Mishra took a stock of kharif sowing activities and preparedness for any impact of El Niño on agriculture and other sectors.

El Niño is not an indicator of below-normal monsoon rainfall, officials have informed, adding that weather situation will continue to be observed closely.

FAQS

Why has the Gurugram Police asked companies to opt for work from home?

The advice has been made by the Gurugram Police due to heavy rains in the area causing heavy traffic and accidents all over the area.

What weather alerts have been issued by the IMD for Delhi-NCR region?

IMD has issued yellow alert for Delhi and Gurugram with forecast of moderate rains while orange alert has been maintained for Ghaziabad due to heavy rainfalls.