India's monsoon is currently showing two very different faces. In Delhi, light showers have brought welcome relief from sticky, humid weather, while heavy rain in Mumbai and several districts of Maharashtra has pushed authorities to issue a red alert. Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have reported deaths linked to the downpours, and Arunachal Pradesh is still dealing with the aftermath of flash floods.
Delhi wakes up to rain relief
Several parts of the national capital recorded light to moderate rain on Thursday morning, offering some respite to residents who had been battling humid conditions, and bringing temperatures down as well. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the sky is expected to remain generally cloudy through the day, with light to moderate rain likely to continue. The department also said that spells of rain accompanied by thunder are expected to persist in the capital from Friday through Sunday. Delhi's minimum temperature on Thursday was recorded at 22.8 degrees Celsius, which is 5.1 degrees below normal, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius. Intermittent showers along with light winds were reported across several areas through the morning, giving people some relief from both heat and humidity. The IMD has indicated that rain could continue in the coming hours as well, which may push temperatures down further.
Nowcast alert issued for Delhi-NCR and neighbouring districts
The weather department has also issued a nowcast alert for Delhi-NCR, warning that light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds is likely over the next two hours. Wind speeds during the thunderstorm could reach 40 to 60 kilometres per hour, with gusts touching as high as 80 kilometres per hour. The same alert has been extended to Haryana's Panipat, Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Rewari, Nuh and Mahendragarh districts, as well as Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Hapur and Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, among several other districts.
Monsoon covers all of Himachal Pradesh, seven dead
Heavy monsoon rain on Wednesday claimed a combined total of seven lives in separate incidents across Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Continuous rainfall triggered landslides in several areas, flooded roads and disrupted transport systems, throwing normal life completely out of gear. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has now covered all parts of Himachal Pradesh as of Wednesday. The IMD has issued a warning of heavy rain in the state for the next seven days and has advised both residents and tourists to stay alert, since the period could bring landslides, flash floods, waterlogging and disruption to traffic.
Mumbai and Maharashtra under red alert for heavy to very heavy rain
Heavy rain in Mumbai on Thursday added to residents' troubles. Several parts of the city saw waterlogging, while roads were choked with hours-long traffic jams. The continuous downpour disrupted everyday life, leaving people struggling to commute. The IMD says the spell of rain in Mumbai could continue for the next few days. The department has issued an orange alert for the city, warning that heavy to very heavy rain is likely in Mumbai and its surrounding areas in the coming days, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at some spots. According to the weekly forecast, Mumbai's maximum temperature is expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 27 degrees Celsius.
Neighbouring Thane district has been placed under an orange alert from Wednesday to Friday, with a red alert issued for Saturday. Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are also expected to receive heavy rainfall. On Sunday, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at several places in Mumbai, Thane and Sindhudurg, while Palghar, Raigad and Ratnagiri could see even more widespread impact.
Two girls narrowly escape electric shock in Navi Mumbai
In Navi Mumbai's Nerul area, an incident of electric shock from an exposed live wire amid waterlogging was reported, in which two girls narrowly escaped injury.
Monsoon impact felt across other parts of the country
Beyond Mumbai and Maharashtra, the monsoon's impact is visible in several other parts of the country. Rain-related incidents in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have already claimed four lives. In Arunachal Pradesh, people are still coping with the effects of flash floods. On the other hand, rain in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh has brought major relief from intense heat. The southwest monsoon has also advanced into Uttarakhand and several other parts of north India, which could bring more rain to additional regions in the coming days.
