New Delhi: Several states across India are currently grappling with severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and landslides.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings about intense rainfall in several states including West Bengal, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Heavy rains in West Bengal and Odisha
IMD has predicted that West Bengal and Odisha will experience significant rainfall over the next two days. This is due to a deep pressure system in the Bay of Bengal that is moving towards the Ganges region.
In South Bengal, light to moderate rain is expected on September 15. Districts such as Jhargram, Purulia, West Burdwan and Birbhum are under a heavy rainfall warning. Sea conditions are expected to be dangerous, with wind speeds reaching 50-60 km/h in the northern Bay of Bengal, which could intensify up to 70 km/h.
There is also a wind warning for the Gangetic plains of West Bengal, including Kolkata, with wind speeds potentially reaching up to 60 km/h by the morning of September 15.
In northern Odisha, districts bordering West Bengal, such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Balasore, are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain until the morning of September 17.
On September 15 and 16, the rainfall is expected to intensify in these regions. The IMD has advised people to stay away from unsafe kutcha houses and has warned fishermen against venturing into the Bay of Bengal or along the Odisha coast until September 16.
Rain in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the situation has worsened due to continuous rain and landslides, leading to road closures, including national highways. In Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region, four people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours due to the heavy downpour, while two people remain missing.
A total of 478 roads, including national highways, have been blocked. Roads between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath, Sonprayag and Gaurikund, and on the Rishikesh-Yamunotri highway near Orchha Band in Uttarkashi are closed. Additionally, sections of the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway are also affected.
Weather forecast for other regions
West and Central India, including areas such as Konkan & Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, are expected to receive moderate rainfall in the coming days. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in parts of Chhattisgarh and East Madhya Pradesh, particularly on September 15 and 16.
Meanwhile, in East and Northeast India, regions like Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, and the Northeastern states are expected to see isolated heavy to extremely heavy rainfall throughout the week.