IMD warns of widespread heavy rain; orange alerts for multiple regions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over several parts of India during the next two to three days and issued orange alerts for multiple regions. The advisory covers eastern Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal for today, with an expanded area of heavy rain expected in the short term.
The Met office said the intensity and spread of rainfall will be significant over north-eastern India and other pockets, with additional spells of heavy precipitation likely over Sikkim, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, west Madhya Pradesh, west Rajasthan, Gujarat, Konkan, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, through the next two to three days.
In addition, the IMD has highlighted that Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, along with Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds until tomorrow. Similar stormy conditions were also forecast to continue over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand through Saturday.
Warnings, watches and likely impacts
The IMD categorises alerts by colour to indicate severity. An orange warning implies that people should be prepared for heavy rainfall that could cause disruption to routine life and localized flooding, while yellow warnings advise being aware of possible adverse conditions.
Key impacts to expect include:
- Urban flooding and waterlogging in low-lying areas during intense rain spells.
- Disruption to road, rail and air traffic from reduced visibility, waterlogging and falling trees.
- A rise in lightning and gusty-wind incidents during thunderstorms, posing risks to outdoor workers and travellers.
- Rough sea conditions near coastal and island areas, affecting fishermen and small boats.
| Alert | Regions specifically named |
|---|---|
| Orange | East Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal |
| Widespread heavy rain next 2–3 days | Sikkim, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, West MP, West Rajasthan, Gujarat, Konkan, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Andaman & Nicobar |
Precautions advised
Authorities and the public should follow standard safety measures as per IMD guidance and local disaster-management agencies. Practical steps include:
- Fishermen: avoid venturing into sea during rough conditions and heed coastal warnings.
- Commuters: allow extra travel time, avoid waterlogged routes and follow traffic advisories.
- Farmers: secure vulnerable crops and take precautions against waterlogging; avoid fieldwork during thunderstorms.
- Residents in flood-prone localities: move valuables to higher ground and stay tuned to local administration updates.
The IMD forecast also stresses that thunderstorms will be accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in several states, an element that raises the risk to outdoor labourers, construction sites and those travelling on open vehicles. People are urged to seek shelter during storms and avoid standing under trees or near exposed electrical infrastructure.
Local administrations and district disaster-response teams will be monitoring rainfall and issuing area-specific advisories and warnings; the IMD forecast should be treated as a national-level guidance for preparedness. Stay updated via official IMD channels and state government advisories for the latest colour-coded warnings and any evacuation instructions.
The weather pattern is expected to evolve over the coming days; citizens in the affected regions are advised to remain alert and follow instructions from local authorities and the IMD.
