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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that the southwest monsoon is highly likely to make its official onset over Kerala. Weather scientists have predicted that the vital monsoon system will advance steadily across the southern peninsula over the next 48 hours. Concurrently, the IMD has issued urgent warnings regarding widespread heavy rainfall, intense thunderstorms, and localized lightning across several states. Pre-monsoon showers have already caused severe disruptions in major urban centers, with heavy downpours lashing sections of Mumbai. In Bengaluru, traffic on the vital Outer Ring Road slowed to a complete crawl after sudden rain left major stretches heavily flooded. Beyond urban flooding, extreme weather anomalies are creating severe challenges in northern and western parts of the country as well. In Rajasthan’s Barmer district, a massive and violent dust storm barreled through the region, tragically killing two children and injuring several others. Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, sudden cloudbursts across two districts have forced local authorities to issue emergency alerts due to flash floods. The UN weather agency has added to the global context, noting an 80% likelihood of an El Niño pattern that could trigger erratic temperatures. The IMD has advised travelers and commuters to stay updated on local weather advisories to mitigate travel disruptions. Farmers across the country are watching the monsoon’s progress closely, as timely rainfall remains the backbone of India’s agricultural economy. State disaster management authorities have set up temporary round-the-clock control rooms in vulnerable coastal and hilly regions to monitor rising water levels. Emergency rescue teams have been deployed to flood-prone zones to handle potential infrastructure damage or evacuations. The weather office emphasizes that while the onset brings relief from intense summer heat, the initial phase requires high public vigilance.
