Heavy rainfall expected in north India till July 21: States to be affected

These areas include - Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In adjoining areas, states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and north Madhya Pradesh will be affected from July 18-21.

With the arrival of delayed monsoon in the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted intense rainfall over north India from July 18 to July 21. The severe rainfall is likely to continue over the west coast till July 23, the IMD said.

A man is pulled across to safety on a rope, as damaged buildings and the Alaknanda river are seen in the background in Uttarakhand.(Reuters/ File photo)

The northern part of the country can expect moderate to severe thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and east Rajasthan in the next 24 hours, the IMD said on Sunday.

Issuing a caution, the weather department said that the intense rainfall accompanied with lightning is likely to cause casualties in people and animals staying outdoors.

The rainfall activity is expected to increase with widespread rainfall to isolated heavy to very heavy rains likely over the western Himalayan region, the weather body said. These areas include - Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In adjoining areas, states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and north Madhya Pradesh will be affected from July 18-21.

These areas will also witness a decline in the rainfall after the predicated period, the IMD said.

Uttarakhand, an ace tourist attraction during this period of time, is likely to witness isolated to extreme heavy rainfall on July 18 and July 19. A similar pattern will be observed over the northwestern parts of UP on July 19, IMD said.

Moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places are also very likely over Delhi and Chandigarh on July 18 and 19.

Western and southern India are also expected to receive heavy rains.

Widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rains are very likely to continue over the western coast and adjoining inland areas during the next 5-6 days, accordigng to IMD.

The IMD issued a red alert for Maharashtra, which has now shut down its local train transit system due to inundated tracks following heavy rainfall. At least 22 people were killed on Sunday due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfalls in Chembur and Vikhroli, officials said.

The IMD said isolated, extremely heavy falls are also very likely over Konkan region and Goa adjoining the ghat areas of central Maharashtra, coastal and south interior Karnataka during July 18 to 19 and over Gujarat region on July 18.

Isolated heavy falls are likely over east and adjoining central India from July 22 onwards, the IMD forecast said.