Monsoon surges back with July rain, IMD issues red and orange alerts across states
After a weak June, a Bay of Bengal depression and Monsoon Trough Cyclone revive rains, triggering alerts from west coast to east, and the Himalayan states
Despite a slow start amid El Nino fears, the southwest monsoon has bounced back with a rainfall surplus for the first week of July.
A depression over the Bay of Bengal and a Monsoon Trough Cyclone (MTC) over western India besides a Monsoon Trough have reportedly revived the monsoon after a bleak June.
Overall for June and July so far, however, large areas across the country are in deficit, with entire North East, most of north India, including the Gangetic plains, and parts of western India are under a deficit. The rest of India has received normal rainfall.
Dense clouds shroud country
India Meteorological Department (IMD) data for July 1 to July 6 shows 53.3 mm of rainfall while the average is 48 mm, indicating a surplus of 11 per cent.
Also read: Monsoon fury in Maharashtra: 3 feared trapped in Pune landslide, Mumbai on 'red alert'
Satellite images show dense clouds blanketing almost the entire country, with major bands over northern Bay of Bengal and off the Gujarat and Maharashtra coast, besides a smaller cover over the Himalayan belt.
The IMD has issued a red alert (take action) for coastal Gujarat and Maharashtra and an orange alert for Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Madhya Pradesh as the Bay of Bengal depression moves inland. Large amounts of rain are expected to lash eastern and central India, increasing the risk of floods.
Red and orange alerts for many states
The Odisha government has put the entire state on alert as incessant rain continued for the third consecutive day on Monday (July 6), even as the IMD forecast more downpour till July 7.
Several district administrations declared all educational institutions closed in view of the heavy rainfall.
Also read: Cracking under pressure: Flagship highways suffer damage in monsoon showers
Orange alerts have been issued for the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, too, which are getting rain from the active monsoon trough stretching across the Gangetic plains. In Himachal, overnight rain triggered floods and blocked key roads in Chamba and Kullu districts.
Orange alerts are also on for the Western Ghats states, right from Gujarat to Kerala, thanks to the Monsoon Trough Cyclone.
Downpour continues in Mumbai
Mumbai and other areas of Maharashtra, which have been receiving relentless downpours, are expected to get some relief from Thursday (July 9) onwards.
Even on Monday (July 6), heavy rain and wind in Mumbai crippled air travel and forced an adjournment of the monsoon session in both houses of the state legislature.
Also read: Mumbai, coastal Maharashtra on red alert as rains trigger flight delays, flooding, death
Heavy to very heavy rainfall lashed isolated parts of Rajasthan too.
Weathermen expect the monsoon to remain vigorous over the coming days. The widespread rainfall has come as good news for the kharif crop and eases concerns over reservoir levels as feared during the lean monsoon in June.