Torrential rain lashed parts of northern India on Monday (September 1), flooding roads and bringing traffic to a standstill in major urban centres including Gurugram and the capital, New Delhi.

Footage from both cities showed cars, buses and motorbikes wading through knee-deep water, while pedestrians struggled to navigate submerged streets. Traffic police in New Delhi issued advisories urging commuters to avoid waterlogged routes, while several underpasses were temporarily closed due to flooding.

In Gurugram, a key business hub adjoining the capital, office workers reported delays reaching workplaces, with long queues of vehicles stuck on major arterial roads. Authorities said drainage pumps were deployed at key intersections, but many areas remained heavily waterlogged for hours.

India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September, delivers nearly three-quarters of the country’s annual rainfall and is crucial for irrigating farmland. However, the same rains often overwhelm urban drainage systems, leading to severe flooding in densely populated cities. Experts have long pointed to rapid urbanisation, inadequate infrastructure and encroachments on natural water bodies as factors that worsen the impact of heavy downpours.

While the rains replenish reservoirs and are vital for agriculture, they frequently disrupt daily life, damaging property, delaying transport and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Local authorities in both Gurugram and New Delhi have urged residents to exercise caution, avoid flooded areas and monitor official advisories as rainfall is expected to continue in the coming days.

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