Overview

• The India Meteorological Department issued red alerts for isolated extreme rainfall over Rajasthan and South Interior Karnataka on July 18 and for Kerala on July 19–20, alongside orange and yellow warnings in Delhi–NCR, Telangana and four other states.
• Rajasthan recorded up to 17 cm of rain in 24 hours, inundating low-lying areas of Kota, Pushkar and Ajmer, leading to school closures and the reopening of Kota Barrage sluice gates.
• Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar districts in Jharkhand kept schools shut as the state’s rainfall surplus hit 71%, and 38 of 40 gates at the Bheem barrage were opened to release about two lakh cusecs from the swelling North Koel river.
• Kodagu, Udupi and Dakshin Kannada districts in Karnataka declared holidays for all educational institutions under red alerts, and fishermen were warned to avoid the Arabian Sea off Kerala and Karnataka coasts.
• Urban centres faced major disruptions: Delhi–NCR battled waterlogging that forced flight diversions, while Hyderabad’s roads were gridlocked under an orange alert for heavy downpours.