New Delhi: Severe monsoon rains have thrown life out of gear in Delhi-NCR and several northern states, prompting the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue fresh warnings.

With continuous downpours battering the region, authorities have announced closures of schools, colleges, and offices in multiple cities to ensure public safety.

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad. The weather forecast for Delhi today has cautioned of intense showers across the capital and surrounding areas.

In Gurugram, heavy rain has already led to severe waterlogging and caused massive traffic congestion. Reports confirmed a seven-kilometre-long traffic snarl, forcing officials to take urgent measures.

The District Disaster Management Authority has declared an orange alert and instructed all schools, colleges, and offices to remain shut, encouraging work-from-home wherever possible.

Which states are on red alert?

The weather alert has also been extended to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where a red warning has been issued due to the threat of flash floods and extremely heavy rainfall.

Both states have been cautioned about the possibility of more landslides and flooding as the IMD predicts additional rainfall in September.

Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir remain under an orange watch for heavy rainfall. According to today’s forecast, schools and offices across the affected regions are expected to stay closed with online classes recommended wherever feasible as a precaution.

The Meteorological (MeT) Department officials on Tuesday said that widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the union territory over the next 48 hours, with rivers, streams, and seasonal nallahs likely to swell.

“Thunderstorm, flash flood and landslides are possible during this period at vulnerable places. Today and tomorrow weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with one or two spells of light to moderate rain/thunder at many places, with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts, with moderate to heavy rainfall over Doda, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Ramban in Jammu division and Anantnag and Kulgam in the Valley. Rainfall is expected to occur mainly towards late night today/early morning tomorrow till late afternoon,” the MeT Department officials said.

In view of the adverse weather conditions, authorities have declared a red alert in Jammu and Kashmir for the next 48 hours.

Residents have been advised to avoid water bodies, nallahs, and weak structures as there remains the possibility of cloudburst, flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas.

District administrations have set up helplines and control rooms with 24/7 attendance of concerned officials.

In Chandigarh, authorities announced the closure of all schools on Tuesday.