Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative monsoon flooding image)
19 states under IMD heavy rain alert, flash flood risk flagged
The IMD has issued heavy rain alerts for 19 states, warning of flash flood risk in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with gusty winds up to 65 km/h.
Nineteen states are under an IMD heavy rain alert, with flash flood risk flagged for four states in particular.
Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to see heavy to very heavy rainfall over the coming days.
The IMD also forecast gusty winds of up to 65 km/h in several regions during the alert period.
Landslide risk has been rated moderate to high in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The current spell is being driven by a well-marked low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood.
The alerts are linked to a well-marked low-pressure area positioned over northeast Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood, which is driving the current spell of heavy rain.
Delhi is also expected to see a change in weather conditions as the wider system moves across north India in the coming days.
Authorities in the affected states have been advised to remain on alert, particularly in low-lying and landslide-prone areas where the risk of disruption is highest.
This marks one of the broader IMD alerts issued this monsoon season, spanning nearly the length of the country from the Himalayan foothills to central and eastern India.
The IMD warned of flash flood risk and heavy to very heavy rainfall across Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with the four states facing the sharpest impact.
Gusty winds of up to 65 km/h are expected in several regions alongside the rainfall, adding to the risk of disruption in the affected areas.
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are bracing for intense downpours along with thunderstorm and lightning warnings through the alert period.
Persistent wet spells are also expected to continue across Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal as the system moves through the region.
The IMD flagged a moderate to high risk of landslides in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir given the intensity of the forecast rainfall.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative monsoon flooding image)