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New Delhi: Monsoon is currently in its most ferocious form across the country. Due to a strong low pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal and a weather system formed over south-west Uttar Pradesh, heavy rains are continuing in a large part of the country. The next 24 hours are considered to be very sensitive and challenging for the capital Delhi and the adjoining NCR areas. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert of torrential rains in about 15 states of the country on August 8 and has given strict instructions to the people to remain alert. Along with rain, storm winds with a speed of 60 to 75 kilometers per hour have also been feared in many areas.

Alert in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal

In Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, temperatures have dropped sharply due to continuous rain. In Himachal Pradesh, areas like Chamba, Kangra, Sirmaur, Solan, Kullu, and Shimla, the rain has led to a dense fog in the morning, bringing a mild chill to tourists. Meanwhile, sensitive districts like Poonch, Kulgam, Udhampur, Kathua, and Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir are facing the threat of heavy rain over the next 24 hours. 

Monsoon wreaks havoc in eastern India

The weather in eastern India is expected to remain extremely rough for the next three days. A depression over the Gangetic coast and the northwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining West Bengal, is expected to cause heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in some areas of Odisha on August 8th.

Monsoon wreaks havoc in Bihar

Meanwhile, the monsoon is in full swing in Bihar. A yellow alert has been issued for several districts, including Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Saran, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Purnia, and Supaul. Torrential rains over the past 24 hours have caused river levels to rise rapidly, flooding low-lying areas. According to meteorologists, this intensity of rainfall will persist until August 10th in the northwest, central, and south-coastal regions of the country. 

Records broken in Delhi-NCR

The severe impact of the rains is clearly visible in the capital Delhi and surrounding cities. On Saturday, the Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Delhi. In just the first week of August, Delhi has already recorded 127 mm of rain, the highest rainfall in the initial period of this month since 2011. Heavy rains have also disrupted normal life in Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurugram. In view of the situation, schools have been closed as a precautionary measure in many districts.

The torrential rains in the hill states are now wreaking havoc. The situation in Uttarakhand remains extremely worrying, where more than 130 main routes and roads, including the Badrinath Highway and the Gangotri Highway, have been completely blocked due to landslides at various places. In view of the constant threat of debris falling from the mountains, the administration has temporarily banned the Char Dham Yatra. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in Nainital, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Almora, Rudraprayag, Udham Singh Nagar, Pauri Garhwal and Champawat.