IMD has issued a heavy‑to‑very‑heavy rain alert for Friday, citing a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal that will sweep across West Bengal, Odisha and ten other states. The warning covers 37 districts in West Bengal alone, including Purba Medinipur and Jhargram, where very heavy showers are expected.
Jharkhand is on an orange alert for the next 24 hours, with Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum slated for heavy to very heavy rain. A yellow alert covers 11 other districts, signalling a lower but still significant threat.
Odisha will see widespread rain, and some areas may experience very heavy showers. Telangana, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam also face widespread precipitation, with extremely heavy showers possible in pockets.
The warning extends beyond the east: Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh may see scattered showers until September 29, while Uttar Pradesh could receive very heavy rain in the east and heavy rain in the west. East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh are also in for heavy showers, with thunderstorms and gusty winds.
In the north, East Rajasthan may stay wet through September 27. Assam and Meghalaya will receive widespread rain, and other northeastern states will see scattered showers. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Rayalaseema will also get rain, though mostly scattered.
Emergency services across the affected states have opened shelters and are ready to respond to potential flooding, power outages and road blockages. Local families in the hilly districts of West Bengal and the plains of Odisha are already stocking water and food as the storm approaches.