Live: 'Orange' rain alert for Uttarakhand's Nainital and Bageshwar; Ludhiana activates monsoon command centre

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Friday (July 3, 2026) that a low-pressure system active over the Bay of Bengal is likely to deliver heavy to very heavy rainfall across several south Bengal districts through July 6, with a risk of waterlogging developing in low-lying areas of the region. The department noted that July 5 is very likely to bring very heavy rain to South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Howrah districts. IMD added that the low-pressure zone positioned over the northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to grow more intense over the next two days, pushing heavy rain into most districts across south Bengal. The department also cautioned against possible waterlogging in low-lying localities due to anticipated downpours and thunderstorms. North Bengal, which had gained some respite after bearing the brunt of severe rainfall the previous week, is expected to face another heavy rain spell from July 7 onwards. IMD stated that all north Bengal districts — Darjeeling and Kalimpong included — may experience heavy rain through July 9.

After a video showing a section of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway sinking in went viral on social media, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) suspended the authority engineer's team leader and the contractor's project manager. The agency attributed the cave-in to water accumulation caused by rainfall. In an official release, NHAI said show cause notices have additionally been served to the relevant project director, authority engineer and EPC contractor. "The road surface subsidence on the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor on July 1, 2026 resulted from localised water stagnation following rainfall the preceding night, combined with constraints in commissioning the permanent cross-drainage system at that location," NHAI said. The authority posted on X expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to highway commuters by the road surface collapse on the corridor, and confirmed that the affected stretch has been restored and reopened to regular traffic.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday (July 3, 2026) placed Mumbai under a red alert for both Saturday (July 4) and Sunday (July 5), warning of heavy to very heavy rain at several places and extremely heavy downpours at isolated locations, according to civic officials. Neighbouring districts Thane, Palghar and Raigad were brought under the same red alert. Despite the monsoon's delayed onset, Mumbai has been lashed by unrelenting rainfall throughout the week, throwing normal life into considerable disarray.

Heavy rainfall triggered a landslide that blocked the Choling-Karcham stretch of National Highway-5 (NH-5) in Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, on Friday (July 3, 2026). Residents were seen gathering around a vehicle that had been engulfed by the debris from the slide.

Commuters make their way through a heavily flooded stretch of road in Mumbai, Maharashtra, as rainfall continues on Friday (July 3, 2026). Photo Credit: PTI

The IMD has forecast light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds of 40-50 kmph across Jharkhand over the coming four days. The weather agency has issued an 'orange' alert (be prepared) for isolated thunderstorms and lightning across all 24 districts of the state on Saturday (July 4, 2026), to be followed by a 'yellow' alert (be updated) running from July 6 to 8. As per the IMD bulletin, Latehar, Palamu, Chatra, and Garhwa districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Sunday (July 5, 2026). On Monday (July 6, 2026), heavy rain is expected over Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Latehar, Chatra, and Ranchi, while Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, and West Singhbhum are in line for heavy showers on Tuesday (July 7, 2026). The bulletin noted that overcast skies will prevail with a chance of light to moderate rain statewide and heavy rainfall at scattered locations, while maximum temperatures are not expected to shift significantly over the next five days. IMD Ranchi Deputy Director Abhishek Anand confirmed that an 'orange' alert covering isolated thunderstorms and lightning has been put in place for all 24 districts on Saturday, with a 'yellow' alert to follow from July 6 to 8. Wind speeds could touch 40-50 kmph, he added. — PTI

Delhi government officials said on Friday (July 3, 2026) that more than 90% of drain-desilting work has been completed across the city as part of preparations to tackle waterlogging during the monsoon. The Public Works Department (PWD), the largest drain-managing agency in the capital, has cleared over 90% of its desilting tasks across its three main zones. Official figures up to July 2 show that roughly 1,955 km of PWD's total 2,123 km drainage network has been cleaned — 539.34 km in the East Zone, 603 km in the South Zone, and 812 km in the North Zone. The PWD manages approximately 50% of Delhi's entire drainage network. Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the top priority is to ensure the drainage network remains fully operational so that water does not accumulate or disrupt movement even during heavy downpours. He added that manpower has been boosted and desilting is progressing at the intended pace, with over 90% of the job now done. The Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department has completed 93% of its desilting work across 77 drains, having already removed more than 31 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of silt. The department oversees 382 km of drains, including the Najafgarh drain, Barapullah drain, and Delhi Gate drain. The Delhi government has identified 169 locations susceptible to waterlogging. Officials also noted that 445 waterlogging hotspots, mapped using traffic police data from 2023, 2024, and 2025, are currently under close surveillance. — PTI

In Jaipur, rainwater inundated the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital, submerging the emergency ward, ECG room, and X-ray section, causing considerable hardship to patients, their attendants, and hospital staff. In Chittorgarh district, overnight rains in Kapasan and Nimbahera tehsils left multiple roads blocked. The Weather Department issued an orange alert for Kota, Baran, and Jhalawar districts on Friday (July 3, 2026), while a yellow alert has been put in place for the rest of the state, excluding Jaisalmer and Barmer. The department has forecast very heavy rainfall in several districts of eastern and southeastern Rajasthan over the coming days. Moderate to heavy showers with thunderstorms are also expected at isolated spots across the Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur, and Jaipur divisions during the next five to seven days. Isolated locations within districts of the Kota division may also experience extremely heavy rainfall, the department warned. — PTI

The Meteorological Department said the Southwest Monsoon brought widespread rainfall across Rajasthan, with Sambhar in Jaipur topping the charts at 8 cm during the 24-hour period ending Friday morning (July 3, 2026). Nimbahera in Chittorgarh, Kekri in Ajmer, Phagi in Jaipur, and Buhana in Jhunjhunu each logged 7 cm of rain, while Kotri in Bhilwara received 6 cm. Several other locations across the state also recorded rainfall, though all came in below 6 cm. The Weather Department noted that numerous parts of eastern Rajasthan witnessed thunderstorms, gusty winds, and light to moderate showers over the previous 24 hours, with isolated areas getting heavy rain. Sections of western Rajasthan also saw light to moderate rainfall alongside strong winds. Heavy downpours triggered waterlogging in urban areas of Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, and Rajsamand districts, and water collected in several villages across these districts as well. — PTI

Following the death of a 55-year-old man who fell into an open drain, Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap on Friday (July 3, 2026) launched a stinging attack on Mumbai's drainage infrastructure, declaring that all 4,446 uncovered manholes across the city had become nothing less than "death traps". Addressing the legislature, Jagtap pointed out that Mumbai has a combined total of 1,03,996 manholes, of which 96,383 have been fitted with protective safety nets. "Even so, 4,446 manholes remain wide open, and they have turned into death traps," he alleged, urging that the House take up the matter for a thorough and detailed debate. After the session concluded, the MLC stepped outside and spoke to waiting journalists, raising the pointed question of just how many of the city's manholes had actually been upgraded to smart manholes. The outrage stems from Thursday's (July 2, 2026) tragedy, when a 55-year-old man plunged into an uncovered sewer during a heavy spell of rain in Mumbai — an incident that compelled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to place four of its civic officials under suspension and constitute a senior-level committee to probe the matter.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Municipal Commissioner for the Eastern Suburbs, Avinash Dhakane, has expressed deep regret over the unfortunate demise of a person who slipped into an uncovered manhole in Mumbai's Sakinaka. He maintained that the local body is taking active measures to keep all manholes secured. Talking to ANI following his site inspection on Thursday (July 2, 2026), Mr. Dhakane raised questions on the removal of the lid, pointing out that earlier records showed it was in a secure state. "This event is highly deplorable and should have been avoided. As part of monsoon arrangements, BMC makes sure that all manholes remain sealed and any damaged covers are fixed. Directions and written directives are dispatched to all wards, discussions are conducted, and verification reports are gathered to assure their proper status. We had indeed got these confirmations from all municipal wards," Mr. Dhakane stated. He further noted that initial assessments suggest no official work order had been sanctioned for that specific spot. - ANI

According to a state minister, the Odisha administration has resolved to set up four new Doppler radars across the state in the near future. These radars will play a crucial role in predicting environmental disasters like heavy rain, floods, and cyclones, the minister explained. The determination to set up these devices was finalized during a high-profile assessment meet led by Suresh Pujari, the Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, on Thursday (July 2, 2026). Mr. Pujari announced that these newly planned Doppler radars will be deployed in Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Puri, and Paradip. Currently, the state operates two functional Doppler radars situated in Gopalpur and Paradip. The installation process for the Doppler Weather Radar in Sambalpur is on the verge of completion and is slated for an upcoming inauguration, the minister noted, mentioning that corresponding installations in Balasore, Bhubaneswar, and Puri are scheduled to become operational during this calendar year. - PTI

Authorities announced on Friday (July 3, 2026) that a 35-year-old man, who was the son of a former Deputy Mayor, lost his life when a coconut tree collapsed onto his path during intense downpours and powerful winds in Mira-Bhayandar within Maharashtra's Thane district. The deceased, identified as Murdhagaon resident Rahul Ashok Patil, whose father previously held the Deputy Mayor post in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC), passed away at a medical facility two days after the mishap took place on Wednesday. District officials reported that Patil was traveling on his two-wheeler through the Sadanand Nagar locality on Wednesday evening (July 1, 2026) when strong winds and heavy rainfall uprooted a coconut tree, causing it to crash down on his motorcycle. Patil suffered serious wounds and was rushed to a local hospital in extremely critical condition. He fought for survival for two days before passing away. Officials added that this death marks the first fatality linked to rain in the city for the ongoing monsoon season. - PTI

In the wake of a 55-year-old individual losing his life by slipping into an unsecured manhole in the Sakinaka locality of Mumbai, City Mayor Ritu Tawde on Friday (July 3, 2026) called for stringent measures against the culprits while announcing a ₹10 lakh financial aid package for the victim's family. Discussing the event with media representatives, the Mayor described the tragedy as highly regrettable, noting that although the manhole was initially shut, workers were in the middle of fitting a safety protective grid when the accident took place during intense downpours and red alert conditions in the metropolis. Ms. Tawde further mentioned that disciplinary measures have been initiated against the on-site personnel, placing the primary accountability for the oversight on the ward officer. - ANI

The national capital greeted Friday (July 3, 2026) under a blanket of clouds, with the overnight low settling at 28.1 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the city under a yellow alert, cautioning residents about moderate rain and thunderstorm activity persisting through the day. The daytime high is expected to peak at 32 degrees Celsius. Station-level readings showed Palam at 25.9 degrees Celsius — 1.9 notches below the seasonal average — while Lodhi Road recorded 28.0 degrees Celsius, 1.0 notch above normal. Ridge came in at 24.6 degrees Celsius, 0.9 below normal, and Ayanagar registered 25.8 degrees Celsius, 1.0 below normal. The weather agency has forecast a largely overcast sky accompanied by moderate precipitation for the day. Gusts of 40–50 kmph, lightning and thunderstorms are expected during the forenoon, afternoon, evening and night, along with light to moderate rainfall throughout. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 89 at 9 a.m., placing the city in the 'satisfactory' category.

The Hindustan-Tibet Road (National Highway-5), which was blocked near Choling in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district after heavy rain triggered a massive debris slide on Friday (July 3, 2026), has been cleared and thrown open to all vehicle types, officials confirmed. Around 6 a.m., a huge volume of debris came crashing down the steep slopes near Merut Nallah, leaving two vehicles buried in the muck. The Ribba-Kanda link road was separately cut off after flooding in the Ribba drain. Deputy Commissioner Amit Sharma told PTI that no loss of life was recorded in either incident. A JCB machine was immediately deployed at Choling for clearance work, and the highway was restored to traffic by approximately 10 a.m., he added. Figures from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) showed that 60 roads across the state remained shut due to rain damage as of Friday morning, while 48 electricity transformers and 27 water supply schemes had also been knocked out of service. Separately, 24 pilgrims stranded near a temple in Chamba district's Bharmour subdivision have been brought to safety. Flash floods had washed away the temporary wooden bridge that served as the only access route to the shrine, leaving the devotees marooned. All have since been evacuated successfully.

Multiple localities across Mumbai recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department projecting "heavy to very heavy" showers to persist through the day. Suburban rail services on the Central, Western and Harbour lines were running without disruption in the morning, railway officials confirmed, although passengers reported that local trains were not adhering to their timetables. Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport bus services — another essential lifeline of the city — also kept running normally, with no major breakdowns noted. The civic body said a high tide of 4.28 metres is expected at 2.18 pm on Friday, followed by a second high tide of 3.68 metres at 2.09 am on Saturday, while low tides are forecast at 8.22 pm Friday (1.74 metres) and 7.44 am Saturday (1.05 metres).

Delhi's Friday morning began under a thick blanket of clouds, with the minimum temperature settling at 28.1 degrees Celsius as the India Meteorological Department put the capital on yellow alert for moderate rain and thunderstorm activity throughout the day. Lightning and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph are expected during the forenoon, afternoon, evening and night, along with light to moderate rainfall.

Heavy rain on Friday plunged several parts of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh into severe waterlogging. Temples situated close to Ram Ghat were also submerged as the Shipra River's water level climbed sharply due to relentless rainfall across the state. The India Meteorological Department said in its weather bulletin that conditions are now conducive for the southwest monsoon to extend further into parts of the North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, the remaining areas of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, and additional sections of Rajasthan over the next two to three days.

The Hindustan-Tibet road — National Highway 5 — was sealed off to vehicular movement near Choling in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district on Friday (July 3) at around 6 am after heavy rainfall triggered a large debris fall, officials said. A massive quantity of rubble came down from the steep hillsides near Merut Nallah, leaving two vehicles trapped in the mud. The Ribba-Kanda link road was also cut off following a flood surge in the Ribba drain. Deputy Commissioner Amit Sharma informed PTI that no fatalities or injuries have been reported so far. Clearance operations are currently under way at Choiling.

The India Meteorological Department has placed Nainital and Bageshwar districts of Uttarakhand on 'orange' alert, warning of heavy to very heavy showers at isolated locations on Friday, July 3. Separately, stone falls and debris rolling off the hillsides caused a brief disruption to traffic on the Badrinath National Highway as well as the Kedarnath yatra corridor, officials said. The monsoon entered Uttarakhand on June 30 and by Wednesday had spread to cover the entire state. The Dehradun-based Meteorological Centre noted that light to moderate rain was recorded across various pockets of the state on Thursday.

Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said on Thursday (July 2) that the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has launched a technology-driven "Monsoon War Room" — fitted with 1,700 CCTV cameras — to keep a round-the-clock eye on the city and respond rapidly to rain-related problems. Bains visited the facility housed at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in MC Zone D, Sarabha Nagar, on Thursday. He said the war room projects live HD footage from flooding-prone junctions, low-lying localities and vulnerable drainage channels onto video walls. Bains said the system can spot waterlogging within seconds and chart the extent of flooding, enabling teams to be sent straight to affected sites — cutting response time from hours down to just minutes.