IMD Issues Fresh Warnings as Monsoon Advances: Heavy Rain to Lash East, Northeast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across parts of eastern and northeastern India, as the southwest monsoon remains active and is expected to strengthen further this week. Authorities have been advised to remain alert for flooding and waterlogging in vulnerable areas.
On June 29, the weather department forecast heavy rainfall across the Northeast, eastern India, the west coast, and central India. It also indicated favourable conditions for the monsoon to advance into more parts of northwestern states over the next few days.
Arunachal Pradesh, one of the worst-hit states, has been placed under an 'orange' alert for Monday, with warnings of thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places. A yellow alert will remain in force from June 30 to July 2. The state has already experienced flash floods and landslides affecting 10 districts, including Keyi Panyor, Papum Pare, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, East Siang, Leparada, and Lower Siang. Several homes have been inundated, roads washed away, and infrastructure disrupted. The Border Roads Organisation has restored traffic on the Kimin-Potin road, which was cut off due to heavy rain and flash floods.
In Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, the IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy spells. Rising water levels in rivers, including the Teesta, Jaldhaka, Dayna, Leesh, and Gheesh, have put authorities on alert. The department cautioned about possible landslides in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, along with flooding in low-lying areas of north Bengal.
The southwest monsoon continues to make steady progress. According to the IMD, conditions are favourable for it to advance into more parts of the North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, the remaining parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, besides parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next two to three days. Subsequently, the monsoon is expected to move further into Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and southeast Rajasthan.
Apart from the Northeast, heavy rainfall has been forecast over Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Odisha, Telangana, Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-60 kmph are likely in several of these regions.
While much of the country is witnessing active monsoon conditions, Delhi is still waiting for the season's arrival. The national capital recorded its warmest morning in nearly two years on Sunday. Private forecaster Skymet said the monsoon is likely to reach the city around July 4, if conditions remain favourable. Meanwhile, parts of Uttar Pradesh may continue to experience heatwave conditions through June 29.
