Monsoon clouds over Bengal, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
IMD alert: Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast for 15 states
The IMD has issued a heavy rain and thunderstorm alert for 15 states including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttarakhand and the northeast, with wind speeds up to 70 kmph and landslide risk in hill states.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms for 15 states in the coming days.
States covered by the alert include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The IMD expects wind speeds of up to 70 kmph, along with a raised landslide risk in hilly areas including Himachal Pradesh.
River water levels are rising rapidly in several states named in the alert, the department said, flagging a risk of localised flooding.
Southern India is expected to see comparatively subdued weather activity during this spell, with only isolated showers forecast rather than the widespread rain seen elsewhere.
The northeastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya are all included in the alert, reflecting a broad band of monsoon activity stretching across the region.
Authorities in low-lying and hill-state districts have been advised to stay alert for waterlogging, landslides and possible disruption to road and rail traffic during the alert period.
The IMD’s warning system uses colour-coded alerts, with the current advisory urging residents in the affected states to exercise caution given the combination of heavy rain and strong winds.
A low-pressure area over southwest Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh.
West Bengal is under a very heavy rain warning, with widespread rainfall expected across the Gangetic plains of the state from September 7 to 10.
Jharkhand is likely to see widespread rainfall from September 8 to 11, while Odisha’s spell is expected between September 10 and 12, according to the IMD’s regional outlook.
In Delhi-NCR, the IMD forecast very light to light rain at many places, with moderate rain possible in some areas and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning likely during the morning to forenoon.
Monsoon clouds over Bengal, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0