A red alert—indicating extremely heavy rainfall and the potential for severe disruption—has been issued for Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of West Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an intense spell of monsoon activity over large parts of the country between June 18 and June 23, issuing red and orange alerts for several regions and warning of potential disruptions to daily life, transport, and infrastructure. The renewed vigour of the monsoon system is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, strong winds, and localised flooding across central, eastern, southern, and northeastern states.
Eastern, central states on high alert
The heaviest impact is expected across East and Central India. A red alert—indicating extremely heavy rainfall and the potential for severe disruption—has been issued for Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of West Bengal on Wednesday, June 18. States including Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Bihar, and Gangetic West Bengal are also likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 km/h through to June 21.
In some pockets of Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, rainfall may exceed 20 cm in 24 hours, IMD officials warned. Parts of Madhya Pradesh are also expected to face high-intensity storms with wind speeds possibly reaching up to 70 km/h.
South, west prepare for torrential rain
Southern states are not being spared either. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are set for widespread showers, with isolated heavy rainfall likely on June 18 and 19. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rayalaseema may see wind gusts touching 60 km/h.
Meanwhile, western coastal states—Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Konkan—will see heavy to very heavy rainfall from June 18 to June 20. The IMD has predicted intensified showers particularly between June 22 and 23, raising concerns over flooding and potential landslides in hilly areas. Winds in these regions may gust between 30–40 km/h, prompting warnings for those living near the coastline.
Northeast and northwest
The Northeast is set for a significant monsoon onslaught. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected over Meghalaya on June 18 and 19, while states such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will experience steady moderate to very heavy rain over the coming days.
In Northwest India, alerts have been issued for states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. From June 19 to 21, Uttar Pradesh will likely see very heavy rain in isolated areas. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana are expected to witness downpours between June 20 and 22.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for the national capital, Delhi, where thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds up to 50 km/h are expected. The city reported 82% humidity in the morning, with a minimum temperature of 28°C and a forecasted high of 36°C. Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ range with an AQI of 80 at 9 am.
Odisha bears the brunt
According to IMD Bhubaneswar, Odisha has already begun witnessing heavy rainfall, with eight to nine locations reporting significant downpours in the past 24 hours. A well-marked low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal has been identified as the main driver behind the deluge, which is expected to continue for at least the next two to three days.
“Heavy rainfall has occurred at eight to nine places in Odisha in the last 24 hours,” said Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD Bhubaneswar. “The low-pressure system is accompanied by an upper air cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above sea level and is expected to move northwestwards across Jharkhand within the next 24 hours.”
In view of this, the IMD has advised fishermen to stay ashore due to squally conditions and wind speeds of 35–55 km/h along the Odisha coast. Sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough, and marine activities have been temporarily halted.
Key rainfall figures include Joda in Keonjhar district recording 13 cm, followed by Tiring (Mayurbhanj) at 12 cm and Banspal (Keonjhar) at 10 cm. Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Mayurbhanj districts have been particularly affected.
Damage risks and safety advisories
The IMD has highlighted several potential impacts across affected regions, especially Odisha, Jharkhand, and central India. These include damage to plantations, standing crops, and loose structures, minor disruptions to power and communication lines, and localised flooding in low-lying urban areas. There’s also a risk of traffic snarls, embankment erosion, damage to salt pans, and even mudslides in hilly terrain.
Residents in vulnerable districts have been urged to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep emergency supplies handy. Authorities are also monitoring flood-prone rivers and reviewing dam outflow strategies to avoid sudden inundation.
Pilgrimage in peril
In Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, the heavy monsoon has already led to two tragedies in just one week. Two days after a helicopter crash near Gaurikund killed seven people, including a toddler, a landslide struck the Kedarnath Yatra trekking route on Wednesday, killing two more and injuring three others. The incident, which occurred around 11:20 am, was triggered by boulders crashing onto the crowded pilgrimage path amid heavy rainfall.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local police launched a prompt response. One person remains missing. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief and directed officials to provide immediate relief and medical support.
