Akhnoor (Jammu and Kashmir) / New Delhi, May 2: Heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday led to a significant rise in the Chenab River’s water level in the Akhnoor sector, raising concerns of potential flooding in low-lying areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier forecast light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40–60 km/h, across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from May 1 to 6.
Meanwhile, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were hit by unseasonal heavy rain in the early hours of Friday, resulting in widespread waterlogging, traffic snarls, and public inconvenience. Key locations such as Delhi Airport, Minto Road, and Gurgaon were heavily inundated, with reports of vehicles breaking down and trees being uprooted, further exacerbating the disruption.
Responding to the chaos, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed the media, emphasizing the coordinated effort between the Centre, Delhi Government, and local municipal bodies to tackle the capital’s persistent infrastructure problems.
“This triple-engine government is on the ground and working with full enthusiasm,” said Gupta. “The rain before the monsoon season is a wake-up call for our system. Officers were on alert from 5 a.m., and I personally witnessed several traffic jams and waterlogged points on the way to this programme.”
Gupta stressed the need for overhauling Delhi’s fragile infrastructure, calling the rainfall a “divine alarm” to trigger urgent reform.
In light of the severe weather, an official advisory urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors, avoid travel, and seek shelter away from trees and concrete structures. Citizens were also advised to unplug electrical appliances and avoid contact with water bodies or conductive objects to minimize the risk of electrocution or injury.
The situation continues to be monitored as authorities brace for further rainfall in the coming days.