A deep depression hovering over the northwest Bay of Bengal is poised to make landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh by Thursday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed. The weather system is already unleashing intense rainfall across large parts of eastern, northeastern, and southern India, prompting warnings and alerts from authorities.
As the depression edges closer to the coast, its impact is being felt across the Northeastern states, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim, where heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected to continue through May 31. The IMD has issued a specific warning for parts of Meghalaya, forecasting isolated incidents of exceptionally heavy rainfall — exceeding 30 cm — on May 29 and 30.
Southern India is also reeling under intense monsoon conditions. The coastal and ghat regions of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are experiencing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, which is likely to persist through May 30. A gradual reduction in rainfall intensity is anticipated from the following day.
The weather pattern is not limited to the eastern and southern regions. Northwest India is also witnessing unstable conditions due to multiple western disturbances. Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds, ranging between 40 and 80 kmph, are expected over the next four to five days across East Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding regions.
In the last 24 hours, various states have recorded heavy to very heavy showers. These include Konkan and Goa, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, along with parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Odisha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Telangana, and eastern Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha.
The IMD has also observed thunderstorms with squally to gusty winds in several states including Tamil Nadu, Assam, East Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, while isolated hailstorms were reported from parts of Himachal Pradesh. West Rajasthan experienced localized dust storms.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has continued its northward march, advancing into more parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, the North Bay of Bengal, and reaching the remaining northeastern states. It has also covered parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. The IMD stated that conditions remain favorable for the monsoon to progress further into West Bengal and Bihar within the next 48 hours.
Given the potential risks of localized flooding, landslides, and transportation disruptions, the IMD has advised residents in vulnerable regions to remain alert. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea, especially along and off the coasts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, and north Odisha. Travellers are urged to check weather updates before heading out, and local administrations are on standby to manage any emergencies.
Citizens are encouraged to follow official advisories closely, avoid waterlogged and low-lying areas, and secure loose objects in homes and surroundings to minimize damage from gusty winds. In hilly terrain, people should stay clear of steep slopes that are prone to landslides during intense rainfall.
The situation remains dynamic, and authorities are monitoring developments closely to ensure timely response and public safety.
