Delhi records wettest first week of August in 15 years

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Delhi recorded 127mm of rain in the first seven days of August, making it the wettest first week of the month in 15 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Safdarjung, the base station, recorded 204.1mm of rain by Friday evening, reaching 90% of the normal August total. Heavy showers on Friday caused waterlogging up to four feet deep on roads, traffic jams, and at least 16 fallen trees. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Saturday and a red and orange alert for parts of Delhi on August 8, warning of thunderstorms. Light to moderate rain is expected to continue over the weekend.

Two people died in a building collapse in Gurugram. Delhi's air quality remained satisfactory at 63 for the eighth consecutive day. The monsoon system responsible for the downpour is now moving west towards Rajasthan, where heavy rain is likely over the next 48 hours. IMD said the active monsoon trough and a low-pressure area over Uttar Pradesh triggered the intense rainfall.