Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative monsoon flooding image)
The India Meteorological Department’s heavy rain alert now covers 19 states, with four states specifically flagged for flash flood risk.
Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall over the coming days.
The IMD also forecast gusty winds of up to 65 km/h in several regions, adding to the risk of disruption.
Landslide risk has been rated moderate to high in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
A well-marked low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood is driving the current spell of heavy rain.
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.
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.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative monsoon flooding image)
