Torrential rainfall across several states of India has triggered floods, landslides, and large-scale damage to infrastructure and crops. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of continued heavy downpours in the coming days.
Northern States Worst Hit
- Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi are among the worst affected regions.
- Rivers such as the Yamuna have crossed danger levels, submerging low-lying areas.
- Thousands of people have been displaced, and several villages remain underwater.
- In Punjab alone, over 1,400 villages have reported flooding.
Recent Incidents
- In Marathwada (Maharashtra), the rising Godavari River forced the opening of all nine emergency gates of the Jayakwadi Dam for the first time in three years.
- Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) faced severe flooding after a cloudburst dumped nearly 90 mm of rain in just three hours.
- Hyderabad witnessed heavy rains leading to waterlogging and traffic jams, with reports of people being washed away.
- In Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad, overnight rainfall caused waterlogging, prompting the IMD to issue local alerts.
Deaths and Damages
- Nearly 90 people have lost their lives across northern states due to rain-related incidents.
- Hundreds of thousands have been displaced to relief camps.
- Agriculture has been badly hit with kharif crops damaged in several states, livestock lost, and fields submerged.
Why So Intense?
Meteorologists point to:
- Unusually frequent western disturbances interacting with monsoon winds.
- Urban flooding due to weak drainage and encroachments.
- Climate change, which makes rainfall more intense and unpredictable.
Government Response
- The IMD has issued fresh warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms in multiple states.
- Disaster management teams are working in flood-prone districts, and evacuation efforts are ongoing.
- Officials are monitoring dam water levels to prevent further flooding downstream.
Safety Advisory for Citizens
- Avoid travelling in waterlogged areas.
- Keep essential supplies ready — food, drinking water, and medicines.
- Follow official IMD alerts and local administration updates.
- Farmers are advised to secure livestock and crops wherever possible.
For live updates, follow IMD alerts.