The southwest monsoon’s advance into the country has wreaked havoc in several states. Torrential rains lashing eastern, western, and southern parts of the country have completely paralyzed normal life. The situation has become dire, with overflowing rivers in Assam, deadly landslides in the mountains of Kerala, and urban flooding in Gujarat. According to official data and information from local authorities, over 100 people have died prematurely in incidents related to rain, floods, lightning, and landslides in the past few days. Millions have been forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in relief camps. Given the severity of the situation, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts in several states for the next 48 to 72 hours.
Brahmaputra’s fury in Assam: Over 20 districts submerged, lakhs rendered homeless
Assam, a major state in Northeast India, is currently facing one of the worst flood tragedies of this century. The Brahmaputra River, considered the lifeline of the state, is flowing well above the danger mark, with all its major tributaries—such as the Subansiri, Kopili, Dihang, and Manas—flowing well above the danger mark. More than 20 districts, including Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Nagaon, Kamrup Rural, and Bongaigaon, are completely submerged. A large part of Kaziranga National Park has been submerged, seriously threatening the survival of the rare one-horned rhinoceros and other wildlife.
The floods have caused significant damage to the state’s infrastructure. Hundreds of roads have been cut off, bridges washed away, and many rural areas have been completely cut off from district headquarters. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Indian Army troops are working around the clock to carry out relief and rescue operations. Boats and helicopters are transporting stranded people to safety, and distributing food and drinking water.
Landslide fear in Kerala: Rocks fall in Wayanad and Idukki, rivers in spate
Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in the beautiful southern Indian state of Kerala. Landslides and subsidence have wreaked havoc, particularly in hilly districts like Wayanad, Idukki, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod. Continuous rain has caused debris and huge rocks to collapse onto residential areas, reducing many homes to rubble. Unexpected rises in river levels have forced the opening of gates at major dams, further exacerbating the flood threat in downstream areas.
High waves and strong winds are worsening the situation in coastal areas. The state government has strictly warned fishermen not to venture into the sea. Several deaths have been confirmed in rain-related incidents in Kasaragod and Kannur districts. District administrations have immediately relocated families living in vulnerable areas to relief camps, and all educational institutions have declared holidays as a precautionary measure.
Flood in Gujarat: Cities in Saurashtra and South Gujarat submerged, life halted
The western Indian state of Gujarat is witnessing the fierce manifestations of the monsoon. Record-breaking rainfall has been recorded in Saurashtra, Kutch, and the Surat, Navsari, Junagadh, and Jamnagar districts of South Gujarat. Rivers and streams have overflowed, with rainfall of 20 to 30 centimeters in a 24-hour period in many areas. Residential colonies in low-lying areas are flooded with 4 to 6 feet of water, leaving thousands of vehicles floating in the water, and power outages have disrupted the power supply.
Inter-city bus services and rail traffic have been severely affected due to flooding of national highways and internal connectivity routes within the state. With the help of the NDRF, Indian Coast Guard and Air Force helicopters, people trapped on rooftops and in submerged houses are being airlifted to safer locations. The Chief Minister’s Office is continuously reviewing the relief efforts, and emergency funds have been released to the collectors of the affected districts.
Today’s weather condition: Which states are facing the threat of heavy rain?
According to the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rains will continue in large parts of the country today due to the Monsoon Trough and the Cyclonic Circulation formed over Central India:
Northeast India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh): Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Assam and Meghalaya today. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for these states.
South India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu): Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over coastal and hilly areas of Kerala, coastal Karnataka and south interior Karnataka today.
West and Central India (Gujarat, Konkan-Goa, Madhya Pradesh): Heavy rain is forecast for the Gujarat region, Konkan and Goa, and many parts of Madhya Pradesh today. The risk of flash flooding remains in low-lying areas.
North India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi): Cloudbursts and landslides are expected in the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Light to moderate rain with isolated heavy showers is expected in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi-NCR.
Security advisory and strict disaster management arrangements
The Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have appealed to the general public to stay away from waterlogged areas, swollen rivers, and landslide-prone hill slopes. It is mandatory to follow local weather updates and traffic police advisories before traveling. In case of emergency, contacting state-level control rooms and helpline numbers is recommended. The government’s primary focus at this time is ensuring the availability of clean drinking water, medicines, and medical teams to prevent the spread of the epidemic in affected areas.