Central And Southern India Brace for Heavy Rain During Active Monsoon Phase, IMD Warns
IMD forecasts widespread heavy rainfall across central and southern India.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the southwest monsoon is expected to remain active over central India for the next four to five days, with widespread heavy to extremely heavy rainfall forecast across several regions. The weather agency attributed the prolonged wet spell to a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which is likely to sustain intense rainfall over central and parts of southern India. The warning comes as heavy rains continued to lash multiple states on Saturday, disrupting normal life and triggering flood-like conditions in several areas.
According to the IMD, Saurashtra recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall of 57 cm during the 24-hour period ending Saturday morning. Extremely heavy rainfall, defined as 21 cm or more, was also reported from West Madhya Pradesh, Saurashtra and Kutch, Konkan, and Madhya Maharashtra. Very heavy rainfall, ranging between 12 cm and 20 cm, was recorded in Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe, Coastal Karnataka, and Odisha. Heavy rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm was observed in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, East Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, South Interior Karnataka, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
Mumbai and adjoining districts remained among the worst-affected regions as relentless rain caused widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions and civic emergencies. According to ANI, the IMD issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad on July 4, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. The red alert for Palghar has also been extended to July 5 in view of the continuing adverse weather conditions. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel and follow advisories issued by local administrations.
Also Read: IMD Explains Reasons Behind Slow Monsoon Progress In Maharashtra, Mumbai Awaits Rain
The heavy rainfall resulted in multiple fatal incidents linked to civic infrastructure failures in Mumbai. In Chembur, a tree uprooted by strong winds fell on a school bus carrying students from Universal High School and Tilak Nagar School. Rescue personnel used specialised cutting equipment to free the trapped children, but 11-year-old Vihan Shrivastav later succumbed to his injuries. In another incident in Sakinaka, 60-year-old Aslam Isak Shaikh died after falling into an open and unguarded manhole during heavy rain. He was reportedly using his mobile phone when he fell and was swept away by the strong flow of water. His body was recovered after a search operation lasting around three hours.
The downpour also severely affected transportation across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. A truck overturned near the Kharghar Toll Plaza on the Sion-Panvel Highway, leading to major traffic congestion and delays. Several low-lying areas, including East Dadar and Sion Gandhi Market, witnessed extensive waterlogging, hampering vehicular movement and affecting commuters. Emergency response teams and civic authorities continued to monitor flood-prone locations while drainage operations were undertaken to reduce the impact of the heavy rainfall.
The IMD has advised people in affected regions to remain alert as the active monsoon phase is expected to persist over the coming days. With the low-pressure system continuing to influence weather patterns, several states across central, western and southern India are likely to experience further spells of heavy rain. Authorities have cautioned that intense precipitation could trigger urban flooding, landslides in vulnerable areas and disruptions to transport and essential services, urging citizens to stay updated with official weather bulletins and local advisories.
Also Read: IMD Predicts Further Monsoon Advance Across Maharashtra Over Next Few Days
