Delhi in the Headlines: PM Modi’s Puja Visit, Rain Chaos, and Paperless Airport Entry
The national capital experienced a day of high-profile activity and weather extremes on Tuesday, marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maha Ashtami visit to a major Durga Puja pandal and sudden heavy rains that disrupted air travel.
PM Modi Performs Aarti at CR Park Kali Mandir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed aarti at the famous Kali Mandir Durga Puja pandal in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) on the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami.
- Traffic Disruption: In anticipation of the VIP movement and heavy festive crowds, the Delhi Traffic Police had issued a warning for major congestion. The advisory covered key routes like the Outer Ring Road (Panchsheel to Greater Kailash), Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, and CR Park Main Road, urging commuters to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
Rain Lashes Delhi-NCR, Flights Diverted
Relief from the heat arrived abruptly as heavy rains lashed parts of Delhi and the NCR around noon.
- IMD Alert: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its warning to an ‘orange’ alert, forecasting moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds up to 40 kmph over the next few hours.
- Air Travel Impact: The adverse weather led to travel chaos at the Delhi airport, with at least five flights being diverted to Jaipur between 12:15 pm and 12:30 pm.
Delhi Airport to Introduce E-Arrival Card
In a move to simplify immigration, the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is set to roll out a new e-Arrival Card system for foreign travellers starting Wednesday (October 1).
- Paperless Entry: Launched under the Bureau of Immigration, the digital system will eliminate the need for foreign passengers to fill out paper-based arrival forms, enabling faster clearances, reducing queues, and supporting the airport’s sustainability goals.
- Convenience: International travellers will be able to fill and submit their details online up to three days before their arrival.
