Heavy monsoon rains continued to batter large parts of India on Wednesday, triggering floods, landslides, transport disruptions and widespread damage across several states. Gujarat's Surat emerged as the worst-hit city after receiving nearly 18 inches of rainfall within just 36 hours, leaving large parts of the city underwater and forcing the evacuation of more than 2,100 residents.

The relentless downpour inundated residential colonies, roads and commercial markets, while several vehicles were swept away in floodwaters. Authorities shut schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in Surat and neighbouring Navsari district, urging residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.

Surat Faces Severe Flooding

The unprecedented rainfall created flood-like conditions across Surat, disrupting normal life and affecting thousands of families. Rescue teams deployed boats in low-lying localities, including the flood-hit Limbayat area, while emergency personnel continued evacuation and relief operations throughout the day.

Business activity also suffered as water entered Poddar Arcade, one of the city's major mobile phone markets. Officials continued monitoring river levels as heavy rainfall persisted across South Gujarat.

Gurugram Hit by Highway Collapse

Heavy rainfall also caused major disruption in Haryana's Gurugram. A section of the Delhi–Jaipur National Highway (NH-48) caved in following continuous rain, leading to a traffic jam stretching nearly 10 kilometres.

Several areas reported up to two feet of waterlogging, while a school bus became stranded in a flooded drain along the service lane. Gurugram Police appealed to corporate offices to allow employees to work from home over the next few days to reduce congestion and ensure public safety.

Transport Services Affected

The weather severely impacted transportation across several states.

In Mumbai, continuous rainfall disrupted suburban railway operations, with local trains running around 30 minutes behind schedule. Waterlogging between Vasai Road and Virar affected railway services, leading to the cancellation of 39 trains, while several others were rescheduled or halted midway.

Air travel also experienced delays in Delhi and Mumbai. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet advised passengers to check flight status before leaving for airports as adverse weather conditions continued. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR through July 9.

Floods, Landslides Continue Elsewhere

The monsoon's impact extended well beyond western India.

In Arunachal Pradesh, floods and landslides have affected more than 94,000 people across 26 districts. Four people have lost their lives, while rescue teams continue efforts in several isolated regions where communication remains disrupted.

Kerala's Wayanad witnessed another landslide tragedy, leaving three people dead and several others missing. Multi-agency rescue operations involving the NDRF, police and fire services are continuing despite difficult weather conditions.

In Rajasthan, heavy rainfall led to flooding in several districts. A jeep overturned in a river in Jalore, while three members of a family were killed after lightning struck them in Chittorgarh.

Meanwhile, a five-storey building collapsed in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, amid persistent rainfall, prompting emergency response teams to secure the area.

Centre Reviews Situation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the flood situation in Gujarat and Maharashtra by speaking separately with the chief ministers of both states. He assured them of all possible assistance from the Central Government for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Authorities in Maharashtra's Palghar district also reported that 10 people have died since July 1 due to rain-related incidents. More than 1,260 people have been shifted to relief camps as rivers continue to flow close to warning levels.

Experts Warn of Changing Rainfall Pattern

Weather experts believe the ongoing spell reflects an increasingly erratic monsoon pattern influenced by climate change and large-scale atmospheric conditions. While rainfall remained below normal during much of June, the first week of July has witnessed extremely intense, short-duration rainfall events across western and central India.

Meteorologists warn that such high-intensity rain episodes, accompanied by urban flooding and landslides, could become more frequent in the coming years. Several states, including Odisha, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Northeast India, remain under red, orange or yellow rainfall alerts over the next two days as authorities prepare for further heavy showers.