Between Wednesday and Thursday morning, 147mm of rain was recorded in eastern parts of Delhi by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), breaking a 14-year record for the highest single day total in July.
Delhi received more than half its monthly rainfall on Wednesday. This torrential rain damaged infrastructure throughout northern India as waterlogged drains led to flash floods.
In Kerala, landslides were triggered after an estimated 572mm of rain fell in 48 hours, according to a state spokesperson.
At least 194 people have been killed, and almost 200 people remain missing. More than 8,300 people have been moved to government-run relief camps in the district.
The IMD has issued weather warnings for the remainder of this week for isolated and “extremely heavy rain”, which is the highest rainfall threshold.
Rainfall totals could exceed 200mm in places, with levels more widely reaching 60-100mm. As a result, some schools and offices will remain closed, and the authorities have called for vigilance as they prepare for further rain and subsequent flooding.
Meanwhile, after a soggy start to the Paris Olympics, temperatures have risen this week and highs of 36C were observed in the French capital on Tuesday as heatwave conditions took hold.
The unrelenting heat has affected spectators and athletes, with some sports changing their rules to ensure the safety of participants. As a result, tennis players can have 10-minute breaks between certain sets, during which they can eat, drink and shower but cannot talk to their coach.
High humidity and the subsequent development of thunderstorms have exacerbated the uncomfortable conditions. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the Games, heat-reducing measures such as underfloor cooling systems and insulation have been used instead of air-conditioning units in the Olympic village. However, some countries, such as the US and Australia, have been permitted to buy their own air-con units.