The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall and thunderstorm alert for 16 states, warning of wind speeds up to 70 kmph in the worst-affected areas.
The alert, covering the period from September 8 to 14, spans Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, among other states.
In Uttar Pradesh, districts including Prayagraj, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Meerut, Aligarh, Mathura, Varanasi and Gorakhpur have been specifically flagged for heavy rainfall.
West Bengal districts such as Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Bankura and South 24 Parganas are expected to see heavy rainfall through Thursday.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were forecast to see rain with thunderstorms, raising the risk of landslides in the hill states.
The IMD’s forecast covers a wide window from September 8 to 14, meaning the wet spell affecting these states is expected to persist for close to a week.
In Uttar Pradesh, specific districts flagged for heavy rainfall include Prayagraj, Gautam Budh Nagar, Kanpur, Mirzapur, Deoria, Shahjahanpur, Meerut, Ambedkar Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, Balrampur, Bahraich, Varanasi, Ramnagar and Gorakhpur.
West Bengal districts including Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Bankura, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas are expected to see heavy rainfall through Thursday.
Wind speeds of up to 70 kmph were forecast in the most affected areas, adding to the hazard posed by heavy rainfall alone.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were forecast to see rain accompanied by thunderstorms, conditions that raise the risk of landslides in the hill states.
Eastern India, including Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, was flagged for heavy showers and strong winds as part of the same weather system.
The IMD’s 16-state alert spans Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, among other states.
Authorities in flood-prone districts have been advised to monitor river levels closely given the scale and duration of the forecast rainfall.
Monsoon rain, Chennai, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
