India braces for widespread heavy rain on August 8

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country on Saturday, August 8. Forecasts cover the north‑west, central, eastern, north‑eastern, western and peninsular regions, with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds expected in many areas. States highlighted include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The department warned of possible flooding, water‑logging and urged residents in vulnerable zones to stay cautious.

The alert also advised fishermen to avoid the sea off the coasts of Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Oman due to adverse conditions. Recent heavy rain on Friday caused significant water‑logging in Delhi‑NCR, disrupting traffic and prompting emergency responses, especially on MB Road where water levels rose to about four feet.