The southwest monsoon has now covered the entire country, unleashing widespread disruption across several states as heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides and rain-related accidents continue to claim lives and damage infrastructure.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for multiple regions, warning of intense rainfall, waterlogging, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.
From flooded streets in Delhi-NCR to industrial mishaps in Maharashtra and landslides in Kerala and Uttarakhand, the monsoon has kept emergency services on high alert across the country.
Delhi-NCR paralysed by heavy rainfall
Overnight showers brought large parts of the national capital to a standstill, with the Safdarjung weather station recording 72.6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. The IMD issued a red alert for Delhi and adjoining areas of Haryana as strong winds reaching up to 60 kmph uprooted trees and disrupted normal life.
Several parts of Delhi, including East of Kailash, witnessed uprooted trees and severe waterlogging, while commuters struggled through flooded roads in many areas of the National Capital Region.
Rainfall recorded at key stations included:
- Lodhi Road: 80.2 mm
- Ridge: 77.8 mm
- Safdarjung: 72.6 mm
- Palam: 63 mm
- Ayanagar: 57.4 mm
Flooding cripples transport network
Morning traffic came to a crawl on the Delhi-Noida Expressway as floodwaters inundated major roads. Severe waterlogging was reported from New Delhi Railway Station, Vikas Marg and Dwarka.
In neighbouring Gurugram, which received around 115 mm of rainfall in just 33 hours, several vehicles were stranded on major routes, including the Delhi-Jaipur Highway and Sohna Road.
Meanwhile, a road caved in at Atal Chowk in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, trapping a car and a scooter. In another incident, three people lost their lives after an under-construction building collapsed in Delhi’s Rohini area following heavy rain.
Maharashtra battles floods and accidents
Maharashtra continues to bear the brunt of the monsoon, with more than 50 rain-related deaths reported in the state this season. While rainfall activity eased temporarily in Mumbai, several neighbouring districts remained on alert.
In a rare incident, floodwaters breached a safety barrier at the HPCL Patalganga LPG Bottling Plant, washing away nearly 3,000 LPG cylinders into the swollen Patalganga River and Kharpada Creek. Videos showing cylinders floating downstream prompted authorities to issue safety advisories.
In Thane district, nearly 800 people have been evacuated over the past week. Three people have died and 11 others have been injured in rain-related incidents, including two teenagers who were struck by lightning in Murbad taluka.
In Pune’s Pimpri Chinchwad area, a massive heap of waste collapsed onto a three-storey structure, causing it to cave in. Rescue teams comprising the NDRF, Indian Army and fire brigade personnel have so far rescued nine people from the debris.
Landslides hit Kerala and Uttarakhand
Continuous rainfall and saturated soil conditions have increased the risk of landslides in hilly regions of the country.
In Kerala, where the IMD has issued orange alerts for Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, the death toll in the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel landslide has risen to five.
NDRF teams continue search and rescue operations in difficult conditions as efforts are underway to trace four persons who remain missing under mud and debris.
Authorities across affected states remain on alert as forecasts indicate continued heavy rainfall in several parts of the country over the coming days.
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