The effects of heavy rains and strong winds sweeping across Delhi-NCR on Tuesday were traffic congestion and severe waterlogging. The rainfall also affected AirIndia and SpiceJet, as well as other airlines, which resulted in them advising their customers to check their flights regularly. Due to the current rainy weather, Air India encouraged passengers to check their flights as arrivals and departures from Delhi might be impacted. Similarly, IndiGo put a hold on flights and their "Rainy Day Reminder" alert encouraged passengers to check their flight status. SpiceJet reported similar cancellations and encouraged passengers to stay informed as well. The weather forecast, according to IMD, is expected to become more intense in the upcoming days.The effects of the heavy downpour were not limited to air travel. Waterlogging was also reported in many places in Delhi, which was severely disrupting the traffic system. This also led to significant delays for travelers. Commuters were seen walking through flooded roads in various locations which shows how badly the city was hit.Flight Delays and Advisories:As per the live flight tracking, systems check and system restrictions...Common taxpayers welcomed the news of the filing deadline for Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the financial year 2024-25 as the filing deadline (Assessment Year 2025-26) was extended. Initially scheduled for July 31, the new deadline provided is now September 15, 2025, which means taxpayers can file their returns and even verify them without the rush of penalties, providing more than 50 days.This drastic change has been made mostly due to the technical problems. The Excel formats of the utility templates for ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4 were issued later than expected. Furthermore, due to system upgrades, new reporting rules, and other delays, the filing process for many became far from effortless.Current Status of ITR Forms: As of now, ITR-5, ITR-6, and ITR-7 Excel utilities are still not available, though, the utilities for some of the ITR forms have been made available. Additionally, ITR-3 cannot currently be filed online due to the unavailability of the JSON utility, resulting in Excel-only submissions. Possibility of Further Extension? There is no statement made by the CBDT regarding extensions beyond the September 15 cut-off. Tax experts like Suresh Surana, however, are of the opinion that due to the ongoing utility delays, form extensions are likely to be made, especially if the technical problems persist like they have in the past. Surana notes that the CBDT has been known to grant extensions during periods of technical problems, and in this case, extensions are possible, though it remains to be seen what the statement will be. Who Benefits from the Extension? The extension stands to benefit the salaried workforce as well as Hindu Undivided Families who are not subject to audits. Such individuals are able to file their Income Tax Returns without incurring penalties until September 15, 2025.Advice for Taxpayers:Waiting until the last minute is never advisable, even with the extended deadline providing ample flexibility. For your own sake, take the effort to mitigate any last-minute hiccups caused by technical difficulties or unexpected issues by filing as early as possible, so you are well-placed to avoid penalties.Based on the available information, several departing flights from the Delhi Airport are estimated to be delayed by some time. According to the airlines and the Indra Gandhi International Airport, passengers should be prepared to experience some disruption, with airport authorities encouraging the use of public transport like the Delhi metro which is less likely to be affected by traffic delays. Passengers are continually advised to verify their flight status with the airlines.
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