New Delhi. The Southwest Monsoon has brought relief from scorching heat and humidity to large parts of the country, yet it has also severely disrupted normal life in several states. While a significant drop in temperature has been recorded in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and northwest India due to rainfall, heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides have compounded difficulties in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

In Jammu & Kashmir, flood-like conditions have emerged in several areas following cloudburst incidents for the second consecutive day, and a road has been washed away. In Uttarakhand, the Badrinath National Highway remained closed for approximately 11 and a half hours due to inclement weather, leaving over 8,000 pilgrims stranded at various locations. Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, 46 roads are closed due to rain, floods, and landslides, disrupting connectivity to several areas. 

Temperature drop in Punjab-Haryana brings relief

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), intermittent rainfall in Punjab and Haryana has caused maximum temperatures to drop significantly below normal, providing residents relief from the intense heat and humidity. Rainfall accompanying the monsoon's arrival in western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan has also brought respite from the heat and dust storms.

However, the Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the eastern and south-eastern districts of Rajasthan over the coming days. A significant drop in maximum temperature was recorded in Punjab, with the state's highest temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius logged in Ropar. The state's maximum temperature remained 2.5 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature was 3.4 degrees Celsius below normal. 

Monsoon arrives in Delhi-NCR; rain expected for three days

The Southwest Monsoon has also arrived in Delhi-NCR, marking the activation of monsoon activity across the entire northwest India region. Light to moderate rainfall continued in the capital and surrounding areas since Thursday morning, bringing residents relief from the heat and humidity.

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius—2.6 degrees below normal—while the minimum temperature stood at 22.8 degrees Celsius, 5.1 degrees below normal. According to the IMD, the monsoon line has advanced rapidly and now covers all of Delhi, the remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and most regions of Madhya Pradesh.

The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rain in Delhi-NCR over the next three days. During this period, strong winds blowing at speeds of 50 to 70 kmph are expected, with gusts potentially reaching 80 to 100 kmph in some locations.

**Red, Orange, and Yellow Alerts Issued for Several States**

In view of the active monsoon, the Meteorological Department has issued alerts of varying levels for several states. Red and orange alerts have been declared for Gujarat, Konkan-Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Madhya Maharashtra, where rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm is expected in some areas.

Additionally, orange alerts have been issued for Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Odisha, and Saurashtra-Kutch due to the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, yellow alerts are in effect for Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Kerala, and several northeastern states.

Over the past 24 hours, more than 21 cm of rainfall was recorded in the Konkan region, including Mumbai, leading to waterlogging in several areas. Rainfall ranging from 12 to 20 cm was also recorded in eastern Uttar Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra, and Odisha.

**Debris on Badrinath Highway in Uttarakhand; Thousands of Pilgrims Stranded**

Continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand has disrupted normal life across several districts. The Meteorological Department has issued alerts for multiple districts, including Dehradun. Road traffic on the Badrinath National Highway was disrupted for approximately 11 and a half hours due to a massive accumulation of debris in the Paglanala and Gulabkoti areas.

During this time, around 8,000 pilgrims and local residents remained stranded on both sides of the highway. Vehicle movement resumed after the route was cleared at 4:30 PM, bringing relief to the people. 

Over 25,000 people still affected by floods in Assam

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, while the flood situation in the state has improved somewhat, more than 25,000 people across two districts remain affected. Approximately 25,100 people are grappling with the floods in Dhemaji and Dibrugarh districts, with Dhemaji district alone accounting for over 21,000 of those affected.

As of Wednesday, the number of affected people stood at over 48,000. The authority reports that four relief camps are currently operational across the two districts, providing essential food grains and other supplies to the affected population. At present, 52 villages remain inundated, and 393.44 acres of agricultural land are submerged.