The India Meteorological Department has issued a rain and thunderstorm warning covering 15 states over the coming days.
The alert includes Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Winds of up to 70 kmph are expected, with the IMD flagging an increased risk of landslides in hill states such as Himachal Pradesh.
The department also noted rapidly rising river levels in several states, adding to the flooding concerns tied to the alert.
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.
Hilly states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir face an elevated risk of landslides and flash floods as rivers in several states are rising rapidly.
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.
Monsoon clouds over Bengal, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
