Monsoon rain alerts sweep Himachal, Delhi, West Bengal

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of weather alerts as the southwest monsoon intensifies across northern India. Red alerts were placed on Himachal Pradesh districts—including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kullu—through July 21, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides. In the national capital, temperatures are expected to fall from roughly 40 °C to the low 30s, with scattered thunderstorms and heavy showers forecast from Monday to Wednesday.

West Bengal’s northern districts (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong and Alipurduar) received a red alert for heavy rain, while the rest of the state faces prolonged showers through the weekend. Additional alerts include a yellow warning for five Kerala districts, a yellow alert for parts of Karnataka, and a yellow alert for Delhi‑NCR. Pilgrimage routes to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi were temporarily suspended due to the adverse weather. Authorities have activated emergency operation centres, deployed quick‑response teams and urged residents to avoid rivers, streams and landslide‑prone areas.