India, May 26 -- Intense thunderstorms and rainfall on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday laid bare authorities' "pre-monsoon preparedness" plans, with usual waterlogging hot spots-Minto Bridge, Azadpur, ITO, airport approach and Zakhira-severely inundated with knee-deep water on arterial stretches waist-high water in underpasses.

As Delhi was battered overnight, flights were disrupted, trees and electricity poles were uprooted, and roads filled with water were a common sight. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi received 81.22mm of rainfall-classified as "very heavy" and certainly unusual for May-between 11.30pm on Saturday and 5.30am on Sunday. Gust winds of 82 kilometres per hour speed also stormed t...