Mumbai is once again bearing the brunt of the monsoon. The Juhu area recorded 205 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, the highest anywhere in the city, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has warned that rainfall could turn even heavier tonight and through Friday morning, July 3, 2026, with gusty winds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour expected on and off. At the same time, Delhi has finally seen the monsoon arrive in July for the first time in five years, while Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Uttarakhand have all been grappling with monsoon-related disruption and loss of life.
Mumbai's monsoon fury, Juhu the wettest spot
According to BMC data, the city recorded an average of 172mm of rain in the 24 hours between 8am on July 1 and 8am on July 2, with the eastern suburbs logging 189mm and the western suburbs 165mm. The fuller picture emerged from the slightly shifted window between 8:30am on July 1 and 8:30am on July 2, during which several parts of Mumbai recorded more than 150 millimetres of rain, underlining just how intense this spell of the monsoon has been. Juhu airport was the wettest spot with 205 millimetres, followed by Santacruz with 204.6 millimetres and Vikhroli with 192.5 millimetres. Heavy rain was also recorded in Sion, Byculla, Chembur, Vidyavihar, Bandra, Ram Mandir and Colaba, making clear that this downpour was not confined to one corner of the city but battered it almost uniformly.
Readings from individual rain gauges add further texture to the scale of the deluge. The Santacruz SWM Workshop and the S Ward office in Bhandup logged the highest figure at 238.8mm, followed by Pasapoli Municipal School in Powai at 234.6mm, Tagore Nagar Municipal School in Vikhroli at 233.2mm, Mithagar Municipal School in Mulund at 226mm, the Andheri Fire Station at 225.4mm, the F South ward office in Parel at 222mm, and the G South ward office in Prabhadevi at 220.4mm. With so many stations recording close to or above 200mm, it is evident that almost every part of Mumbai, whether the island city, the eastern suburbs or the western suburbs, has been soaked this time around.
BMC also shared details of the tidal cycle. A high tide of 4.27 metres was expected at 1:45pm on Thursday, with the next high tide of 3.71 metres due at 1:31am on Friday, July 3, 2026. A low tide of 1.82 metres was expected at 7:49pm on Thursday evening, with the following low tide due at 7:11am on Friday morning. Heavy rainfall coinciding with high tide often worsens waterlogging in Mumbai's low-lying areas, which is why the civic administration is tracking both factors closely.
Roads flooded, local trains running late
Heavy rain returned to Mumbai on the morning of Thursday, July 2, 2026, submerging low-lying areas once again. The downpour slowed both road and rail traffic across the city. Waterlogging was reported in major areas including Dadar, Parel, Hindmata, Charkop, Worli, Goregaon and Andheri, causing significant hardship for commuters and reducing vehicles to a crawl. Relief looked unlikely, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting rain through the day.
While the tracks themselves did not go under water, waterlogging in surrounding areas still affected the movement of local trains. Commuters said several local trains were running 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule, which led to heavy crowding at stations during the morning rush. A Central Railway spokesperson said that despite more than 180mm of rain in the preceding 24 hours, there was no major waterlogging on their network, and local services ran normally across all four corridors, though passengers did complain of delays. Western Railway similarly posted on X that suburban services on its network were running normally, but passengers there too claimed that some trains were running behind their scheduled times, exposing a gap between official statements and commuters' actual experience.
A manhole tragedy claims a life, sparks uproar in the assembly
Amid Mumbai's relentless downpour, a deeply tragic incident also occurred. A man died after being swept into an open manhole. The incident took place in the Chandivali area of the eastern suburbs, where waterlogging had made the open manhole on the road invisible. An official said on Thursday, July 2, 2026, that the fire brigade and the civic body's disaster management teams launched a joint search operation, following which the man's body was recovered the same day. BJP MLA Amit Satam told the assembly that the incident occurred on Khairani Road in the same area, where the BMC itself was carrying out drainage work at the time.
The death triggered a sharp debate over administrative accountability. Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi said the civic body would file a case against the contractor concerned and treat the incident as culpable homicide. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, on the same day, called the incident extremely serious, saying it amounted to culpable homicide. After MLA Amit Satam raised the matter in the House and demanded immediate criminal action against those responsible, the Speaker directed the state government to present a detailed account of the incident to the House before the day's proceedings concluded.
Thane orders survey of dangerous trees after a school bus tragedy
A tree fell on a school bus during Mumbai's heavy rain, killing a student. Following this tragedy, Thane Mayor Sharmila Pimplolkar has ordered a citywide safety survey of dangerous trees. The mayor called an emergency meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority department on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and directed officials to inspect trees around schools, colleges, housing societies, hospitals and major junctions without delay. She also asked for a fresh check on the stability of trees that had previously been flagged as risky.
Stressing coordination between departments to avert any potential danger, the mayor said dangerous, dry or leaning trees and large branches must be identified as quickly as possible and necessary action taken. She also directed that branches left by the roadside after pruning be cleared immediately so that traffic is not disrupted during the monsoon. The public has also been urged to report any dangerous tree they notice directly to the Thane Municipal Corporation.
Minister Sanjay Shirsat's remark sparks outrage, walked back a day later
Maharashtra cabinet minister Sanjay Shirsat found himself at the centre of a controversy over a remark he made. After the death of the student when a tree fell on a school bus in Mumbai, he had said that the falling of trees and electric wires was not something within human control, a comment that drew widespread criticism. A day after being attacked from all sides over the remark, the Shiv Sena minister tried to contain the damage on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. He claimed his words had been twisted and distorted, and added that the civic body should have already ensured proper pruning of trees to prevent such accidents. The episode has opened up a fresh debate over government accountability when it comes to tree maintenance and urban safety.
Delhi finally gets its monsoon, first July arrival since 2021
While Mumbai battles the rain, the national capital's long wait for the monsoon has ended. The southwest monsoon reached Delhi on Thursday, July 2, 2026, five days later than its normal arrival date of June 27. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this is the first time since 2021 that the monsoon has arrived in Delhi in the month of July. In 2021, it had arrived on July 13. Looking at the past five years, the southwest monsoon reached Delhi on June 29 in 2025, June 28 in 2024, June 25 in 2023 and June 30 in 2022. So while a five-day delay may not sound dramatic on its own, a July arrival is a clear departure from the pattern of the last four years.
Even before the official arrival, parts of Delhi saw light to moderate rain on Thursday morning, bringing down temperatures and offering relief from humid weather. The IMD said cloudy skies and moderate rain are likely across Delhi through the day, and the weather office has also forecast thunderstorm activity continuing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 3 to 5, 2026. The minimum temperature was recorded at 22.8 degrees Celsius, 5.1 degrees below the seasonal average, while the maximum is expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius. Intermittent rain accompanied by light winds in the morning brought relief to residents after days of heat and humidity. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 100 at 9am, placing it in the satisfactory category. The IMD also said the monsoon is expected to advance further and cover parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over the next three days.
Himachal Pradesh reels under the monsoon, four dead, roads buried in debris
The hill state of Himachal Pradesh has seen the monsoon turn deadly. Four people have died in separate rain-related incidents. Heavy monsoon rain across several parts of the state, including Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, has triggered landslides, swollen rivers, blocked numerous roads and caused widespread power outages. According to the Shimla Meteorological Department, the southwest monsoon entered Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, and had covered the entire state by Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places between July 2 and July 6, excluding July 4.
The individual deaths make for grim reading. A woman from Solan district died after a large rock fell on her as she was stepping out of her car on the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway near Aut. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, three deaths were recorded in Kangra district on the very first day of the monsoon, one due to electrocution and one due to a fall from height. In Chamba district's Lanot and Fagdog villages, continuous rain has created flood-like conditions, with debris sliding down and entering two houses, causing cracks in walls and heavy damage.
The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) had initially reported that a total of 35 roads had been closed to vehicles across the state, including 18 in Kullu, 11 in Mandi, and two each in Lahaul-Spiti, Sirmaur and Una, along with 127 power transformers disrupted statewide. But the situation worsened, and officials said on Thursday, July 2, 2026, that the number of closed roads had risen to 46, comprising 18 in Kullu, 15 in Mandi, nine in Sirmaur, and two each in Lahaul-Spiti and Una. The SEOC said a total of 181 power transformers have now been knocked out by the heavy rain, and six water supply schemes have also been affected.
On the rainfall figures, Paonta Sahib recorded the highest rainfall since Wednesday evening at 100.4mm, followed by Kasauli at 86mm, Dharampur at 83.4mm, Jattan Barrage at 77mm, Dhaulakuan at 69mm, Pachhad at 60mm, Rampur at 53mm, Una at 50.4mm, Nahan at 38.3mm, Palampur at 37.8mm and Dharamshala at 34.1mm. Lightning strikes were also reported in Kangra, Jubbarhatti and Bhuntar.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken steps to ensure safe, smooth and uninterrupted movement on highways in Himachal Pradesh through the rainy season. In a statement issued on Thursday, NHAI said vulnerable locations prone to landslides, rockfalls, debris accumulation, flooding and other monsoon-related hazards have been identified, and restoration work has already begun on a priority basis at these spots. The authority has also completed a detailed survey of vulnerable and landslide-prone stretches of the national highway network in the state, and corrective measures have been initiated at identified locations based on these assessments. To strengthen highway infrastructure and minimise the impact of bad weather, several technical works are underway, including hill protection works, slope stabilisation, construction of retaining walls, improved drainage systems and anti-erosion measures.
Karnataka: landslide in Mangaluru kills three of one family, schools shut in Dakshina Kannada
Karnataka's Mangaluru also lost a family to the rain. A landslide in the Nagori area, triggered by overnight heavy rain, buried a house under debris. Three members of one family were killed in the incident, including two young girls, while three others were rescued safely. A preliminary investigation found that a large amount of soil from the hill above the house had slid down due to continuous rain, causing the entire structure to collapse.
Meanwhile, in view of a red alert for extremely heavy rain, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan declared a holiday for all schools, PU colleges and anganwadis in the district on Thursday, July 2. He appealed to people to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea. District and taluk-level officials have also been directed not to leave their headquarters, so that action can be taken immediately in the event of any emergency.
Kerala's Idukki reservoir drops to just 23%, deepening farmers' worries
Kerala has also delivered a worrying monsoon update, though here the concern is too little rain rather than too much. With the first month of the water year over, the water level in the reservoir of the Idukki hydroelectric project, one of the state's key power schemes, has fallen to just 23%. The water year runs from June 1 to November 30, and the dam currently holds more than 43 feet less water than it did at the same time last year. According to data from the Kerala State Electricity Board's (KSEB) dam safety department, the water level stood at 2,321.24 feet on July 1, compared with 2,364.18 feet, or 58%, on the same date last year. Most worryingly, despite 30 days of monsoon rain, the reservoir's water level rose by just 4.14 feet, a rise of only 3.54% for the entire month. The drop to 23% due to weak monsoon rainfall has raised the risk of a power crisis in Kerala in the coming months.
The concern is not limited to the dam alone. The southwest monsoon's onset in Kerala was gentle, with light showers across the state and no extreme weather events recorded, but the first month of the rainy season still ended with a 34% rainfall deficit. The IMD has now forecast below-normal rainfall for July as well, adding to the worries of the farming community. This concern carries extra weight because June and July together account for around 65% of Kerala's annual southwest monsoon rainfall. If both months remain weak, the state faces the risk of drought-like conditions without a strong revival of the monsoon in August or September. Deep concern is being expressed in the agriculture and water resources sectors, and the farming community is demanding close monitoring during these decisive monsoon months.
Rajasthan gets the monsoon seven days late, heavy rain alert for the week ahead
Rajasthan's wait for the monsoon has also ended, though with its own delay. The India Meteorological Department said the southwest monsoon entered parts of Rajasthan on Thursday, July 2, 2026, seven days later than its scheduled date. According to the Jaipur Meteorological Centre, the monsoon has advanced into the eastern parts of the state, with its northern boundary currently passing through Tonk, Jaipur and Alwar. The IMD said that a day earlier, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the monsoon had already spread to additional areas of Gujarat, the remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, the entire Delhi region, most of Madhya Pradesh, large parts of Haryana and Punjab, and some areas of Rajasthan. The weather office said conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to spread further into more parts of Rajasthan over the next two to three days.
The department has also forecast torrential rain in several districts of eastern and southeastern Rajasthan in the coming days. On Thursday, scattered places in the Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Jaipur divisions were expected to see moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms. The IMD said extremely heavy rain is also possible at some places in districts under the Kota division. Over the next week, the monsoon is forecast to remain active across the Jaipur, Bharatpur, Kota, Udaipur and Ajmer divisions, with widespread rain activity likely, and very heavy rain is also possible at isolated places in eastern and southeastern Rajasthan during this period.
Uttarakhand: Char Dham routes hit, alerts issued across several districts
The hill state of Uttarakhand has also seen the monsoon disrupt both travellers and pilgrims. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, the weather department issued warnings for Dehradun and several other districts amid moderate to heavy rain across most of the state. Continuous rain and falling rocks and debris have disrupted movement on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district and on the Kedarnath Yatra route in Rudraprayag district. Keeping pilgrims' safety in mind, authorities have temporarily halted vehicle and pedestrian movement on the Sonprayag-Munkatiya route in Rudraprayag district as a precaution.
The Dehradun Meteorological Centre has declared an orange alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital and Bageshwar districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rain at some places, while a yellow alert has been issued for Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts for heavy rain at some locations. Rainfall recorded over the past 24 hours includes 110mm at Narendranagar, 100mm at Dhanolti, 85.5mm at Khatima, 80.4mm at Jolly Grant, 79.6mm at Dehradun, 77.8mm at Mussoorie, 73.5mm at Laksar, 72mm at Banbasa, 70.6mm at Pantnagar, 65mm at Barkot, 64.5mm at Rudraprayag, 63mm at Jakholi and 60mm at Yamkeshwar. Moderate rain was also recorded at several other places across the state.
Kishtwar on alert in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat deploys SDRF in force
In Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, the administration too has gone on alert. The Kishtwar district administration has issued a weather advisory until Sunday, July 5, 2026, citing the possibility of heavy rain, thunderstorms, flash floods and landslides in the region. It has specifically urged people living near rivers to stay alert and avoid vulnerable areas. According to the advisory from the Deputy Commissioner's office, the sky is expected to remain mostly cloudy, with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms likely at many places, while some areas could see heavy rain, strong winds and brief spells of intense showers. The administration has warned that the current weather conditions could trigger flash floods, landslides and debris slides at vulnerable spots, and has advised people living near reservoirs, springs and streams to stay away from these areas until the weather improves and to take all necessary precautions. The district administration has directed all concerned departments, including revenue, public works, mechanical engineering, power, jal shakti, health and medical education, irrigation and flood control, NHIDCL and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), to remain on high alert.
In Gujarat, the police have carried out a detailed review of disaster management and pre-monsoon preparedness across the state. As part of the review held on Thursday (June 2, 2026), a total of 1,036 personnel from 11 companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed at vulnerable sites. The review meeting was held on Wednesday (June 2, 2026) at Police Bhavan under the chairmanship of Director General of Police G.S. Malik, and was attended by superintendents of police from various districts along with officers from several units. The meeting emphasised working in coordination with the NDRF, SDRF, Home Guard, GRD, TRB and local administration during any disaster situation. An official release stated that, under advance planning, 1,036 personnel from 11 SDRF companies have already been deployed at vulnerable and designated sites since June 28, so that relief operations can begin immediately in case of an emergency.
