The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat, the Konkan region, Goa, and central Maharashtra, predicting "heavy to extremely heavy rainfall" over the next few days. Meanwhile, river water levels are rising in Pune, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, prompting authorities to monitor the situation closely and advise residents to take necessary precautions.

IMD scientist Dr. Naresh Kumar, speaking to news agency ANI, explained, "The monsoon is in its active phase. There is a deep depression in North East MP and low pressure in southwest Rajasthan. We expect extremely heavy rainfall in the aforementioned regions, and thus have issued a red alert. There will be no rain in Delhi-NCR in the next two days."

Kerala, coastal Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are also expected to experience heavy rainfall in the coming days, according to Dr. Kumar. He added that when the monsoon trough shifts, light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in Delhi.

Key Developments:

1. Rescue Operations in Gujarat: On Monday, the National Defense Response Force (NDRF) rescued seven fishermen stranded in Hinglaj village, Valsad district, due to heavy rain and high tides in the Auranga river.

2. Maharashtra's Precautionary Measures: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed authorities to remain vigilant in light of significant water discharge from the Khadakwasla, Mulshi, Pavana, and other dams in the Pune region. Emphasizing the importance of relocating residents from hazardous areas, he urged collaboration with the NDRF, SDRF, and the Army, if necessary. Approximately 35,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Khadakwasla dam due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas over the past two weeks, leading to the deployment of army personnel to assist in inundated residential areas in Pune.

3. Western and Central India Affected: Heavy rains swept across western and central India on Sunday. In Jammu and Kashmir, a cloudburst forced the closure of the Srinagar-Leh national highway, cutting off the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh and rendering the Baltal base camp for the Amarnath Yatra inaccessible.

4. Landslides in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh: Recent landslides in Kerala's Wayanad and Himachal Pradesh have resulted in tragic losses of life, with death tolls rising to 358 and 13, respectively. Additionally, over 370 individuals, including pilgrims stranded along the rain-damaged trek route to Uttarakhand's Kedarnath, have been evacuated.

5. Nashik District Alert: Due to rising water levels in the Godavari River from heavy rains, the Nashik district administration has urged residents to stay alert. Officials reported that 4,000 cusecs of water were released from the Gangapur dam, causing a spike in the river's water level.

6. Flooding in Jammu and Kashmir: In the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, several buildings were damaged, and the Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed following a cloudburst that triggered a flash flood. This closure has isolated the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh, and the Baltal base camp for the Amarnath Yatra has become inaccessible.

7. Rising River Levels in Jharkhand: Heavy rainfall in Jharkhand has led to the swelling of several rivers, prompting the East Singhbhum district administration to issue an alert for residents in low-lying areas to ensure their safety.

8. Widespread Rain in West Bengal: All districts of West Bengal have witnessed widespread rain, with heavy showers reported in parts of Birbhum. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released 1.2 lakh cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams on the Jharkhand-West Bengal border on Sunday morning, following a significant discharge from the Tenughat dam upstream. This followed the release of 90,000 cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams on Saturday.