The monsoon has intensified across India, bringing widespread disruption, destruction, and tragedy from Delhi to Telangana. From inundated city streets in the national capital to washed-out highways in the south, heavy rainfall has triggered red alerts, claimed lives, destroyed crops, and put administrations on high alert.

Delhi-NCR Faces Torrential Rains and Red Alert

On Thursday morning, Delhi and its surrounding NCR regions woke up to relentless downpours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its warning from a yellow to a red alert, signaling severe weather conditions that demand immediate attention. Streets in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad were submerged, leaving vehicles crawling and traffic at a standstill.

The worst-affected areas included Ayanagar (57.4 mm), Palam (49.4 mm), Mayur Vihar (17.5 mm), and Ridge (17.4 mm) by 8:30 am. Gurugram recorded 44 mm, with neighborhoods like Palam Vihar and Ashok Vihar Phase 3 reporting heavy waterlogging. Residents described the scene as dire, with garbage floating in stagnant waters raising concerns of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.

Major Impacts in Delhi-NCR:

• Waterlogging on key roads like Outer Ring Road in Subroto Park and Rao Tula Ram Marg.

• Traffic jams, closure of underpasses, and breakdown of vehicles.

• The Delhi government cancelled a pre-Independence Day walkathon from Rouse Avenue to Connaught Place.

• Flight disruptions: Over 300 flights delayed or cancelled during heavy rain spells this season.

• Risk of damage to plantations, crops, and vulnerable structures.

IMD Safety Advisory:

• Follow traffic advisories and avoid unnecessary travel.

• Stay indoors, secure doors and windows.

• Avoid sheltering under trees or near electric poles.

• Stay away from water bodies and open electric wires.

Climate experts point out that unlike last year’s La Niña-driven rains, this year’s neutral weather conditions have been dominated by active weather systems over northwest India, keeping the plains consistently wet. Rain in the city is expected to continue until at least August 17.

Delhi Radar shows intense rain bands over Delhi-NCR.
Light to moderate rainfall recorded in most parts of the Delhi.
Thunderstorm and lightning with heavy rain likely over Delhi in next 2-3 hours.#imd #WeatherUpdate #mausam #Rainfall #DelhiRains #DelhiWeather #Monsoon #StaySafe… pic.twitter.com/XC9TfwBTsg— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) August 14, 2025

Heavy Rain Triggers Flooding and Landslides in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh

The IMD has extended warnings across northern states, including:

• Uttar Pradesh: Orange alert for districts like Bareilly, Lakhimpur, Bahraich, and Maharajganj. Heavy showers expected, especially in western UP.

• Himachal Pradesh: Orange alert in Chamba, Kangra, and Mandi; yellow alert in Una, Bilaspur, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur.
  In Kinnaur, a flash flood at Hojis Lungpa Nala in Rishi Dogri Valley—triggered by a cloudburst—washed away a CPWD camp, injured one person, and stranded four civilians across the Sutlej River.

• Uttarakhand: Orange alert for districts like Dehradun, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Chamoli from August 14–17.
  In Uttarkashi, a glacier breach in the Srikantha Mountain range sent debris and water rushing into the Bhagirathi River, destroying an army base camp and creating an artificial lake 1.2 km long near Harsil.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh’s capital, also suffered intense flooding. In Gomti Nagar, residents waded through knee-deep waters, while schools from Classes 1 to 12 were closed for safety.

#WATCH | Two people were injured after a tree uprooted near Paras Chowk in the Kalkaji area earlier today, after heavy rainfall in Delhi.

CCTV footage confirmed by the Police. pic.twitter.com/O2Ttu8HDhD— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025

Telangana Battered by Torrential Rains: Deaths, Infrastructure Collapse, and Crop Losses

Far to the south, Telangana has been grappling with an equally devastating spell of monsoon rain. Over the past 24 hours, the state has recorded extreme rainfall, with Beemini in Mancherial district receiving 238 mm—the highest in the state. Seven districts reported rainfall above 60 mm, with Mahabubnagar (82.8 mm) and Wanaparthy (73.6 mm) among the worst-hit.

Human Toll:

• In Warangal, 80-year-old Pasunoori Buchamma drowned in her sleep after floodwaters inundated her home.

• In Narayanapuram, 70-year-old Kandikatla Uppalaiah was swept away by the overflowing Akeru Vagu while saving his buffaloes.

• In Mulugu, tribal woman Irpa Lakshmi was washed away while crossing Palem Vagu stream.

Infrastructure Damage:

• Collapse of a section of the national highway near Divitipalli in Mahabubnagar trapped a minibus, injuring several employees of Amara Raja Company.

• Road closures in Wanaparthy’s Ankur village and Khilla Ghanpur-Mahabubnagar route.

• Breached canals in Wanaparthy, Peddamandadi, and Atmakur mandals inundated farmland, destroying standing crops.

The Sarala Sagar Project, Asia’s first auto-siphon irrigation system, is overflowing. Locals have urged urgent repairs and development of the site as a heritage tourist attraction.

Hyderabad and Rangareddy: From Deficit to Rainfall Surplus

After two weeks of continuous rainfall, Hyderabad has recorded 492 mm against its normal of 363 mm, moving from deficit to surplus. Rangareddy district has also exceeded normal levels, recording 386 mm against 348 mm.

The IMD has issued:

• Red alert for Medak, Sangareddy, and Vikarabad districts.

• Orange alert for Bhadradri Kothagudem, Kamareddy, Mahabubabad, and Nizamabad.

• Yellow alert for Hyderabad and multiple other districts.

Schools in Warangal, Hanumakonda, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri were closed on August 14 as a precaution. Hyderabad schools were given half-days due to persistent rain.

Amid adversity, communities displayed resilience—like in Karimnagar’s Ganneruvaram, where a wedding proceeded despite flooded roads, and in Siddipet’s Bahthulavanipally, where power workers braved floodwaters to restore electricity.

The Road Ahead

With heavy rain forecast for the coming days across both North India and Telangana, authorities remain on high alert. The IMD continues to warn of localized flooding, road blockages, crop damage, and risks to life and infrastructure.
From capital cities to remote villages, the monsoon’s fury this season is a stark reminder of India’s vulnerability to extreme weather—and the resilience of its people in facing nature’s challenges head-on.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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