Monsoon to Intensify Across India From July 25; IMD Warns of Extremely Heavy Rain

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an active monsoon phase across large parts of the country from July 25 onwards, driven by two low-pressure systems over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and southwest Rajasthan. The weather office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall over Odisha on July 25-26 and Gujarat on July 25, while heavy to very heavy rain is expected across northwest, central, eastern, northeastern and western India over the next week. Widespread rainfall is likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Kerala and Coastal Karnataka, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds affecting several regions. IMD has also issued flash flood warnings for parts of Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, advising residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert as heavy rain may trigger waterlogging, landslides and traffic disruptions.