IMD issues heavy rain alert as low-pressure area forms over Bay of Bengal
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, July 26, 2026: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of the country after a low-pressure area formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts.
According to the IMD, the system is expected to move northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression within the next 24 hours, leading to enhanced monsoon activity in eastern, central and northern India.
The weather office has predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal on July 26 and 27, while Chhattisgarh is likely to receive very heavy rainfall on July 27.
In North-West India, widespread rainfall is expected over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Uttarakhand from July 26 to August 1. The IMD has also warned of heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan between July 27 and August 1.
Across Central India, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh are likely to witness heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms at various places between July 26 and August 1.
In Eastern India, strong monsoon conditions are expected over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Bihar over the next few days.
The IMD has also issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across most parts of North-East India, including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, from July 26 to July 31.
The weather department has advised residents in the affected regions to remain alert, monitor official weather updates and take necessary precautions in view of the forecast of intense rainfall and possible localised flooding.