Monsoon Mayhem: Delhi Braces for Heavy Showers, Himachal on Red Alert, J&K Death Toll Climbs

According to the latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon belt is hanging over north‑west and north‑east India and is unlikely to let up for the next four‑to‑five days. Delhi, in particular, is in for a wet spell – expect heavy showers on both July 21 and July 22, with the possibility of thunder, lightning and brisk surface winds.

Monday brought a brief, almost deceptive lull in the capital’s weather – a few light drops in isolated spots and a short‑lived dip in temperature. But that was just a pause. The IMD has now issued a yellow alert for Delhi, signalling cloudy skies, cooler nights and, most importantly, strong rain that could exceed ordinary levels.

Rainfall totals are already ticking up. The Safdarjung observatory logged 5.8 mm in the 24‑hour period that ended at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, and the forecast pegs the next two days with much higher numbers, especially in the northern and eastern fringes of Punjab and Haryana where isolated places could see more than 12 cm of rain.

Beyond the capital, the monsoon is behaving aggressively elsewhere. Himachal Pradesh is under a red alert for the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur, while Una, Hamirpur and Shimla sit under an orange alert. Schools in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur have been ordered to close as a precaution.

Further east, Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel from relentless downpours. The death toll from rain‑related incidents has risen to 23, with landslides and flash floods claiming lives across the region. Officials say at least 11 of those deaths occurred in the past two days alone, including a tragic case involving a mother and her two children.

Other hotspots include parts of Jammu and Kashmir such as Reasi, Rajouri and Udhampur, which remain under a red alert. In the plains, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh and the Rohtas and Kaimur districts of Bihar are also flagged for extremely heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh can expect the monsoon to stay active for the next 48‑72 hours, with rain intensity likely to peak on Wednesday, July 22. The outlook suggests a continuation of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall across isolated pockets of northern and eastern Punjab and Haryana.

For residents, the advice is simple: stay indoors during the heaviest periods, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid travel on exposed roads, especially in hilly terrain where landslides are a real threat. Keep an eye on local alerts, and heed any instructions from authorities.