Rains Batter Delhi & Mumbai: NCR Drowns; Floods Sweep 3K Gas Cylinders Away in Mah

New Delhi/Mumbai (IANS): Unrelenting monsoon rains crippled normal life across India’s major metro hubs on Thursday, causing severe traffic gridlock and waterlogging across Delhi-NCR while triggering a bizarre industrial mishap near Mumbai where floodwaters swept away thousands of gas cylinders.

Red Alert in Delhi-NCR as Downpour Drowns Stretches

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the national capital, warning residents of extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and intense showers. The weather agency also placed parts of Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, and Gurugram under an orange alert.

The overnight downpour transformed major roads into rivers, trapping commuters in hours-long traffic jams. In Delhi, Mayur Vihar recorded the highest rainfall at 103 mm, followed closely by Delhi University (90 mm) and Mehrauli (86 mm). In neighboring Ghaziabad, Kamla Nehru Nagar received a massive 164 mm of rain, while Hindon recorded 134 mm.

The deluge severely hit Gurugram, forcing several private companies to issue work-from-home advisories for their employees.

Commuters Stranded, Traffic Police Issue Advisories

Severe waterlogging choked key stretches across the capital, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Vikas Marg, and the route between Mayur Vihar Phase-1 Metro Station and Akshardham.

“As soon as we step out of our homes, the problems begin,” a local resident told IANS. “Every street, intersection, and road is waterlogged. Vehicles are slipping on flooded roads, making commuting extremely difficult and unsafe.”

The Delhi Traffic Police reported that waterlogging slammed traffic on NH-24 near Ghazipur. Traffic personnel and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are currently working to pump out the accumulated water. Officials advised motorists traveling from Ghaziabad to avoid NH-24 and take the Sector-62—Vasundhara—Buddh Chowk—Mohan Nagar route instead.

Flash Floods Near Mumbai Wash 3,000 LPG Cylinders into River

Meanwhile, heavy monsoon downpours battered Maharashtra, triggering an unusual crisis in Raigad district near Mumbai. The relentless rain collapsed a protective boundary wall at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant, allowing fierce floodwaters to rush into the facility.

The powerful current swept approximately 3,000 LPG cylinders out of the plant and washed them into the Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of gas cylinders floating like corks down the swollen river, drawing large crowds of onlookers onto nearby bridges.

Authorities Warn Public Against Touching Floating Cylinders

Because some of the floating cylinders may still contain highly flammable gas, the district administration issued an urgent public safety advisory.

Raigad Collector Kishan Javle strongly urged residents not to touch, collect, or attempt to use any cylinders washed ashore.

“There is no guarantee whether the cylinders washed into the river contain gas or whether they are in a safe condition,” Javle warned. “Picking them up, opening them, or taking them home out of curiosity or for use could be extremely dangerous.”

The administration directed citizens to immediately report any sightings to the authorities or hand the cylinders over to designated collection points, including the HPCL plant, local dealers, or regional Tehsildar offices. Heavy rainfall continues to lash Maharashtra, keeping disaster management teams on high alert.