Heavy Rain Batters Several States as Monsoon Intensifies; Alerts Issued in Uttarakhand, Delhi Receives Long-Awaited Showers

In Uttarakhand, moderate to heavy rainfall lashed most districts, prompting the Meteorological Centre to issue an orange alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, and Bageshwar. The alert warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

Persistent rainfall, along with falling debris and stones from hillsides, severely affected traffic movement on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district and the Kedarnath pilgrimage route in Rudraprayag district. Officials temporarily suspended the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the Sonprayag-Munkatiya road in Rudraprayag as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of pilgrims undertaking the Kedarnath pilgrimage.

In Mumbai, a man died after falling into an open manhole during heavy monsoon showers. The incident occurred while the victim was talking on his mobile phone and accidentally stepped into the uncovered manhole after maintenance staff had removed the lid for repair work. Rescue teams launched a search operation and recovered only the man's umbrella and slippers. Officials said the strong flow of water made it impossible to determine the direction in which he had been carried away.

The southwest monsoon finally reached Delhi on Thursday after days of anticipation, bringing much-needed relief from prolonged hot and humid weather conditions. According to the weather department, conditions had become favourable for the advancement of the monsoon into Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh over the previous 24 hours.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall every day in Delhi from July 3 to July 7. During this period, the minimum temperature is expected to remain between 23 and 24 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature is likely to range between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius.

For Thursday, July 2, the weather department predicted a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall. The maximum temperature was expected to remain around 33 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was forecast at approximately 24 degrees Celsius.

Earlier, Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet Weather, had stated that the southwest monsoon was likely to reach Delhi and adjoining areas around July 3 or July 4. However, the monsoon officially arrived in the national capital on Thursday.

According to the India Meteorological Department, this marks the latest arrival of the southwest monsoon in Delhi in five years. The department noted that the monsoon reached Delhi on June 25 in 2020, one day before covering the entire country on June 26. In 2021, the monsoon arrived significantly later, reaching Delhi on July 13, the same day it covered the entire nation.

Heavy rainfall also caused widespread disruptions in several other parts of the country. Seven people lost their lives in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh as landslides, flooded roads, and transport disruptions brought normal life to a standstill in multiple areas.

Arunachal Pradesh continued to face the aftermath of flash floods, while intense rainfall affected several parts of Maharashtra. The India Meteorological Department also warned of heavy rainfall over South Bengal in the coming days.

In Navi Mumbai, two girls suffered electric shock after coming into contact with an exposed live wire on a waterlogged road near the LP Bridge in Nerul, highlighting the growing risks associated with severe monsoon conditions.

As the southwest monsoon advances across northern and western India, heavy rainfall continues to test public infrastructure, transportation networks, and disaster response systems. Weather authorities have urged residents to remain cautious as forecasts indicate continued rainfall and the possibility of further disruptions in the coming days.