Weather today LIVE updates: IMD red alert for heavy rain in parts of Delhi; Gurugram offices advised to implement WFH

Thursday dawned rainy in Delhi, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for heavy rain across various parts of the capital. The alert stretched from the northeastern to the southeastern and southeastern districts, predicting a combination of heavy, very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning.

In Gurugram, the police advised corporate offices and private establishments to allow employees to work from home, aiming to mitigate traffic congestion caused by the forecasted heavy rain. The IMD and Gurugram Police urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel and use alternate routes to ease road traffic and ensure smooth functioning of emergency services.

Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand's hill districts had a noticeable impact - the Ganga river overflowed its banks, with water levels reaching above the warning mark at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh. Authorities intensified evacuation and awareness campaigns at key river crossings, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force and Water Police working diligently to keep residents safe.

Elsewhere, the persistent showers in Shimla disrupted daily life, making commuting difficult and slowing business operations in the hill town. Residents reported slippery roads and reduced visibility, necessitating cautious navigation through the heavy rain.

In Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a recently constructed bridge connecting several villages collapsed due to heavy rain, cutting off access to the affected villages. The bridge, inaugurated in 2023, witnessed structural failure after three years, leading to a temporary traffic halt on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border.