The India Meteorological Department has sounded a red alert across significant parts of North India, warning of “very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” amid an active monsoon regime. The storm system has already caused major disruptions—roads are washed out, rail links suspended, rivers are rising, and affected communities are on high alert.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the red alert spans the Jammu region—including Reasi, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, and now Kishtwar—where sudden downpours threaten flash floods and landslides. Multiple roads have been shuttered: the vital Jammu–Srinagar highway remains blocked due to landslides and falling rocks in Ramban, and access routes including the Padder Road near Traith Nallah in Kishtwar and roads at Ramnagar–Udhampur and Jangalwar–Thathri have been compromised. Rail service on the PTKC–KNDI section is halted, with trains being diverted via alternate routes.
Himachal Pradesh faces a similar danger. Districts like Chamba, Mandi, and Kangra are under a red alert for blanket warnings of severe rain, lightning, and storms. Flash floods and landslides have already claimed lives: three pilgrims perished during the Manimahesh Yatra after being trapped by landslides and high-altitude illness, bringing the Yatra’s toll to seven. Across the state, over 790 roads—four of which are national highways—lie blocked, nearly a thousand power transformers have failed, and hundreds of water schemes are impaired. The death toll from monsoon devastation in Himachal now stands at 306, with losses estimated in the thousands of crores.
Punjab, too, is staggering under rainfall extremes. Over the weekend, it received 1,272 percent excess rain—Sangrur saw 220 mm, Phagwara 160 mm—throwing urban and farm regions into chaos. The Sutlej River swelled dangerously after a massive release of water from the Harike headworks, flooding villages in Fazilka and Ferozepur. Evacuations are underway in India and neighbouring Pakistan as communities brace for rising waters.
In the capital region, the Yamuna River continues to hover just below its danger mark of 205 metres; sightings from the Old Yamuna bridge show water levels brushing close to this threshold. The IMD has issued an orange to red warning for intense rain spells over Delhi, Haryana—including Gurugram and Faridabad—and adjoining areas, urging caution as the deluge shows no sign of abating.
Rajasthan and Delhi are also bracing for sustained rain. The IMD predicts heavy downpours in parts of West Rajasthan, while an orange alert has been raised for major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and areas across Haryana. These alerts are accompanied by forecasts for thunderstorms, gusty winds, and continued rainfall, driving a stabilized yet volatile monsoon in the region.
Worryingly, the IMD has also highlighted serious risks to standing crops, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where flash floods pose immediate threats. The persistent inclement weather has prompted agencies to caution against farming losses and urge readiness for escalating disasters.
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