New Delhi, May 19, 2025: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a storm and rain alert for 14 states including Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, while warning of an intense heatwave in parts of Rajasthan. Meanwhile, severe weather events have already led to casualties and destruction in multiple regions.
Fatalities Reported in Bihar and Kashmir
On Sunday, severe weather struck Bihar, killing six people. Five of the victims died due to lightning strikes, while one woman lost her life when a tree fell on her. Four others were reported injured. In Jammu and Kashmir, strong winds lashed parts of Baramulla and Shopian late Sunday night. In the village of Behk Gader (Shopian), a tree fell during the storm, killing a young girl and injuring her father.
Scorching Heat in Rajasthan, Torrential Rains in Bengaluru
In Rajasthan, intense heat persisted throughout Sunday with Jaipur recording temperatures higher than Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jaisalmer. The IMD has issued an Orange Alert for extreme heat in the state for the next four days, particularly warning about dusty winds and high temperatures in western Rajasthan.
In contrast, southern India saw a deluge. Bengaluru recorded over 110 mm of rainfall on Sunday, causing widespread waterlogging on streets and inside homes. The IMD has also issued a rain alert for the city today as wet weather conditions continue.
Monsoon Progressing in South and East
The southwest monsoon has made further advancement over the South Arabian Sea, Maldives, Comorin area, southern Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and parts of east-central Bay of Bengal.
According to the IMD, favorable conditions are developing for further advancement of the monsoon over more parts of the South Arabian Sea, the remaining parts of the Maldives-Comorin region, southern Bay of Bengal, and parts of central and northeastern Bay of Bengal in the coming three to four days.
Forecast for the Next Two Days
May 20: Heavy rains are expected in Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Storm and rain alerts are in place for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab. Western Rajasthan will continue to experience severe heatwave conditions.
May 21: States including Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, and Sikkim are likely to receive heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, thunderstorms and rain have been forecast for Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The heatwave alert continues in western Rajasthan.
The shifting weather conditions highlight a dramatic transition period ahead of the full arrival of the southwest monsoon, with simultaneous bouts of summer heat and early monsoonal thunderstorms creating a hazardous mix across large parts of the country.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
