The southwest monsoon has officially covered the entire country, marking an early completion of its annual advance and ushering in widespread rainfall across several regions. After making rapid progress over the past few days, the monsoon has now reached all parts of India, bringing relief from intense summer heat while also causing disruptions in many areas.
Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds on Thursday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for severe weather. The downpour led to waterlogging, traffic congestion and delays in road and air travel, with several low-lying areas inundated during peak hours.
Mumbai and adjoining parts of Maharashtra also continued to receive steady rainfall, while active monsoon conditions prevailed across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall in many of these states over the next few days, with isolated spells of very heavy rain in some regions.
Southern states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, are also expected to witness intermittent showers, while parts of the Northeast are likely to continue receiving widespread rainfall.
The weather department has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in several states and advised residents to remain cautious, especially in flood-prone and low-lying areas. Authorities have urged commuters to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rain and to follow local weather advisories.
