IMD issues flash flood warning for Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka in next 24 hours | Today’s news
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood warning (FFR) for several districts in western India, with widespread rainfall expected in the next 24 hours.
The most at-risk areas include parts of Gujarat, including Saurashtra & Kutch, central Maharashtra, Konkan & Goa and coastal Karnataka, where heavy rainfall could trigger rapid surface runoff, waterlogging and localized flooding in vulnerable catchments and low-lying areas, the IMD said.
In Saurashtra & Kutch, The IMD said Rajkot, Surendranagar, Botad and Bhavnagar districts face moderate risk of flash floods. Across Gujarat, the alert covers Ahmedabad, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Panchmahal, Bharuch, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Dangs, Navsari, Surat, Tapi, Valsad and the union territories of Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
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In central Maharashtra, Ahilyanagar, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur districts are expected to face similar risks. The IMD also warned of a slight flash flood risk in North Goa, South Goa, Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Thane in Konkan & Goa sub-region.
Along the west coast, the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada in coastal Karnataka have also been placed in the medium risk category. Independently, The Met office has predicted a low to moderate risk of flash floods in parts of Kerala & Mahe covering Kasaragod, Kannur, Mahe, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The towns of Lunglei, Lawngtlai and Saiha districts in the northeast are also classified as low to medium flash flood risk.
According to the IMD, surface runoff and inundation may occur in places with fully saturated soil and low-lying areas within the identified areas of concern as rainfall during the next 24 hours could overwhelm local drainage systems.
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Heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed several parts of the country, including parts of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in the last 24 hours, triggering landslides and flash floods in some regions. The severe weather claimed lives, caused widespread damage, submerged homes and other structures, and disrupted air, rail and road transport. Authorities in several states stepped up emergency response measures as forecasts warned of more rainfall in the coming days.
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Monsoon is advancing
Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon has advanced further into the remaining parts of Gujarat and other parts of Rajasthan and Haryana, bringing seasonal rains closer to covering the entire country, the IMD said.
The weather office said conditions remain favorable for the monsoon to move into the remaining parts of the North Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab over the next two to three days, completing its spread across India.
The IMD has also predicted that rain will intensify over north India in the next three days, with isolated heavy rainfall likely in several parts of the region.
The Meteorological Office has advised residents of vulnerable areas to be on the lookout for localized flooding, landslides in hilly areas and traffic disruptions and to follow updates issued by local authorities and the IMD.
