IMD forecasts more rain in Sept, warns hill states

The final stretch of the monsoon season will bring intense rainfall and more deadly landslides to northern states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Sunday, as the country reels from August disasters linked to heavy showers that killed hundreds across the Himalayas.

- Jayashree Nandi

In its monthly weather preview, the IMD forecast above-normal September rainfall, with precipitation projected to exceed the 109% of the long-term average extending over the next two months. This will come after the northwest region that includes the Capital and swathes of the sensitive mountain ranges, recording their wettest August since 2001.

“We are anticipating good, above-normal rainfall during the month. This can lead to episodic occurrence of cloudbursts, mudslides, landslides,” warned M Mohapatra, the weather department's director general. “Authorities should be prepared.”

The warning comes as large-scale devastation continues across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, where incessant rainfall has triggered landslides, flash floods, road cave-ins and extensive infrastructure collapse.

Recent disasters include the Dharali village flood in Uttara khand, and cloudbursts and flooding in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.