IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alerts Across 20 States: Announced school holiday

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain alerts across nearly 20 states as the southwest monsoon gathers momentum and advances into more parts of the country. IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alerts Across 20 States: Announced school holiday.

Several regions are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and the possibility of localized flooding over the next few days.  According to the IMD, weather conditions remain favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

As the monsoon strengthens, rainfall activity is expected to increase significantly across northern, central, eastern and peninsular India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain alerts for 20 states and Union Territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh.

And also, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds over the next few days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Northeast India, Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and Bihar over the next few days. The weather department has warned that these regions could experience intense downpours, thunderstorms, lightning, and localized flooding, and has advised residents to remain alert and follow official weather advisories.

Heavy rainfall is also likely in Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the coming days.

Apart from heavy rain, the IMD has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across several states, including Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Wind speeds may reach 40–50 kmph in isolated places, increasing the risk of falling trees, damage to weak structures and disruption to transport services.

The IMD has urged residents in affected areas to:

Avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain.

Stay away from waterlogged roads, rivers and landslide-prone regions.

Follow weather updates issued by local authorities.

Secure loose objects and avoid taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms.

Farmers and fishermen are advised to follow official advisories before venturing out.

With monsoon activity expected to remain active through the week, authorities have asked state administrations to stay prepared for possible flooding, waterlogging, landslides and traffic disruptions in vulnerable areas.

All educational institutions in Kannur and Kasaragod districts will remain closed on Wednesday (July 1) following an Orange Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the forecast of heavy rainfall over the next three days.

The holiday applies to all educational institutions, including schools, professional colleges, anganwadis, tuition centres, ICSE and CBSE schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and madrasas. The district administrations have announced the closure as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff amid the prevailing adverse weather conditions.