A persistent spell of heavy rain over the past three days has brought normal life to a standstill across Jharkhand. Swollen rivers and storm drains throughout the state are overflowing past the danger mark following uninterrupted downpours. The weather department issued a severe alert for Saturday, September 26, warning of heavy downpours across East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela Kharsawan districts in the Kolhan division. Authorities have raised alarms over potential flooding in low-lying belts across these districts as water bodies continue to rise rapidly.
Yellow Alert Across Districts and Ranchi Forecast
Meteorological officials also placed Palamu, Garhwa, Latehar, and Simdega districts under a yellow alert due to anticipated heavy spells. In Ranchi, forecasters warned of two to three intense bouts of downpours lasting until Saturday afternoon. These spells are expected to be accompanied by strong winds blowing at speeds of up to 40 km/h, along with lightning strikes, prompting officials to advise residents to stay indoors during the peak shower windows.
Ranchi Orders Closure of Schools up to Class 12
Taking note of the hazardous weather and commuting risks, the Ranchi district administration ordered all government and private schools to suspend physical classes up to Class 12 on September 26. An exception was made for institutions currently administering scheduled examinations, giving management authorities the autonomy to make practical determinations. School teachers and administrative staff were directed to report to their respective institutions as scheduled to complete pending non-academic duties.
Gale-Force Winds Topple Trees and Crush Bus
The intense precipitation across Jharkhand is being driven by a deep depression centered over Odisha and adjoining southern Chhattisgarh. Substantial rainfall was recorded on Friday across Seraikela, Bhurkunda, Gandey, Potka, Chaibasa, Ramgarh, and Ranchi. High-velocity winds reaching roughly 50 km/h caused massive disruptions in Ranchi, uprooting more than 25 large trees. The falling branches snapped power lines, leading to recurring electricity outages across urban neighborhoods throughout the day. Near AG Mor in Doranda, an uprooted tree crashed onto a school bus ferrying around 50 students. Emergency personnel and bystanders managed to pull all the children out unharmed, while the driver and the cleaner suffered minor injuries.
Flight Operations Hit at Birsa Munda Airport
Low visibility and squally weather dealt a severe blow to flight schedules at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi. Out of 24 scheduled flight movements, airline operators were forced to cancel 13 flights. In addition, 4 arriving flights had to be rerouted to alternative aerodromes. Inbound IndiGo flights from Pune and Delhi were diverted to Varanasi, while flights arriving from Kolkata and Mumbai were directed to touch down in Kolkata. Cancellations carried into Saturday morning, grounding IndiGo flights scheduled to depart for Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Delhi.
Gradual Weakening and Upcoming Forecast
Providing details on the system, meteorologist Abhishek Anand noted that the deep depression is gradually losing its strength. Weather conditions across most regions of the state are projected to begin stabilizing by Saturday afternoon, alongside a notable decline in wind speeds. On September 26, isolated heavy spells may still impact northwestern pockets including Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, and Latehar. Clearing skies are expected in Ranchi starting September 27, though sporadic thunderstorms, lightning, and winds between 30 and 40 km/h could persist in parts of other districts. As dry weather resumes statewide from September 27 onward, daytime temperatures will gradually rise.
