Roads have turned into rivers, classrooms sit empty, and fishing boats stay docked — a single weather system now stretching across a dozen states has brought large parts of India to a standstill.
A powerful deep depression moving inland from the Bay of Bengal triggered a wave of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Red and Orange alerts on Tuesday, July 29, 2026, warning of extremely heavy rain, flash floods, and lightning across central, western, and northern India. The system is currently tracking west-northwest through north interior Odisha, southern Jharkhand, and northern Chhattisgarh.
Central and Eastern India Bear the Brunt
Odisha and Chhattisgarh are taking the hardest hit, with isolated pockets recording rainfall above 12 cm and rivers rising fast enough to raise flash flood risk in low-lying neighborhoods. In Maharashtra, Nagpur logged 108 mm of rain in just a few hours, submerging vehicles and forcing district authorities to declare an emergency holiday for schools, colleges, and coaching centers. Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh remain on high alert as the system pushes further west, bringing gusts up to 50 kmph.
Delhi-NCR Grinds to a Halt
The capital just logged its rainiest day of the year so far. Knee-deep water has pooled at major hubs like Connaught Place, ITO, and Janpath, and the IMD is forecasting more thundery showers through the evening under an Orange alert.
Mountains and Coasts on High Alert
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh face active cloudburst and landslide risk, with authorities urging tourists to steer clear of mountain highways. Along the coasts, INCOIS and the IMD have banned all maritime activity — seas off Sindhudurg are churning up waves as high as 3.2 meters, while winds in the northwest Bay of Bengal are gusting to 75 kmph. In Andhra Pradesh, over 220 schools in Visakhapatnam have shut their doors.
What to Expect Through Tonight
Forecasts show rain intensifying as the evening wears on, with a 55-64% chance of moderate to heavy rain by early evening climbing to 74-83% overnight — meaning the worst of today’s weather may still be ahead.
