Monsoon Update: IMD Predicts Heavy Rains, Issues Red Warning For Bengal, Assam And Meghalaya From July 19-21

The rain situation is likely to impact the flood situation in Assam which has already affected more than 39.8 lakh people in 27 of the state's 33 districts as on Thursday.

Heavy Rainfall (Rep Pic)

New Delhi, Jul 18: In a weather update for northern region and Northeast states of the country, the Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted heavy rains and issued a red warning for West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya from July 19-21. In the weather update on Friday issued a red warning for Arunachal Pradesh from 19-20 and orange alert for July 21. The rain situation is likely to impact the flood situation in Assam which has affected more than 39.8 lakh people in 27 of the state's 33 districts as on Thursday.

Latest satellite imagery shows moderate to intense convection over parts of Uttarakhand,North Rajasthan, South Punjab,Haryana,west UP,Bihar,South Coastal Andhra Pradesh,Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, northeastern states. Thunderstorm/lightening with rain likely over these areas: IMD pic.twitter.com/B3oPUhMJT9

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2020

According to the state government bulletin, the total number of people losing their lives in this year's flood and landslides in the state have gone up to 102. Around 76 people have lost lives in flood-related incidents with 26 succumbing to landslides. An orange alert has also been issued from July 19-20 for Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Thunderstorm with rain would occur over and adjoining areas of Khataoli,Shamli, Muzaffarnagar , Hastinapur, Bijnor, Adampur , Nazibabad and Chandpur during the next two hours.

 An earthquake of magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter Scale hit Hailakandi in Assam at 4:25 am on Saturday, according to the National Center for Seismology

Monsoon is most likely to shift northwards gradually towards foothills of Himalayas from July 18.  Moreover, as a result of the convergence of moist southerly, south-westerly winds from Bay of Bengal over the northeastern region and adjoining East region and from Arabian Sea over northwest India at lower tropospheric levels is expected from July 18. As per the prediction, extremely heavy rains are very likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya during July 19- 21 over Arunachal Pradesh during July 19 -20, the IMD said. It may worsen existing flood conditions and cause landslides in some areas of northeastern states and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.