The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts across 15 states, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over the next 6–7 days. A low-pressure system over the east-central Arabian Sea is expected to intensify, potentially developing into a depression, bringing severe weather conditions to multiple regions.
Regions Under Red and Orange Alerts
Maharashtra and Goa:
- Red alerts have been issued for Raigad and Ratnagiri districts, anticipating extremely heavy rainfall.
- Mumbai is under an orange alert, with significant rainfall expected.
- The Konkan region is also on red alert, with forecasts predicting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall through the weekend.
Gujarat:
- Coastal districts including Surat, Tapi, Valsad, Dang, Navsari, Amreli, and Bhavnagar are under yellow alerts, with expectations of heavy rainfall and strong winds until May 29.
- Rajkot has experienced sudden weather changes, including rain and lightning, leading to a fatal lightning strike in Garnara village.
- The state has received 42mm of rain from March 1 to May 22, significantly above the average of 2.5mm.
Northeastern States:
- Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecasted across several northeastern states over the next four days, driven by moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.
- Landslides have already been reported in parts of Assam and Meghalaya, with Williamnagar in Meghalaya experiencing extremely heavy rainfall ranging between 23 cm and 28 cm.
- Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds are expected in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram, with wind speeds up to 50 kmph.
Impact on Agriculture and Infrastructure
In south-central Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Solapur districts, severe pre-monsoon rainfall has damaged ready-to-harvest crops such as cashew, mango, grapes, rice, sunflower, and groundnut. Farmers are uncertain about initiating sowing due to ongoing rainfall. Landslides have disrupted traffic and emergency services, with one incident in the Amboli ghat section of Sindhudurg temporarily blocking an ambulance's route.
Precautionary Measures and Advisories
- Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the sea due to worsening marine conditions.
- Residents in affected regions are urged to stay alert and follow guidelines issued by local authorities.
- The IMD continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary.