At least 11 people have lost their lives and several others remain missing after cloudbursts and flash floods triggered widespread devastation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kishtwar districts. The extreme weather also caused extensive damage to homes, roads and agricultural land, while heavy rainfall and landslides disrupted major pilgrimage routes in Uttarakhand.

The latest incidents come as the southwest monsoon intensifies across northern India, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue fresh red and orange alerts for several states over the next two days.

Flash Floods Sweep Away Vehicles in Rajouri

Heavy rainfall during the early hours of Saturday caused the Dharhal River to overflow in Rajouri district, triggering flash floods that inundated the New Bus Stand area in Bela.

According to officials, nearly 200 to 250 vehicles parked in the area were swept away by the powerful floodwaters, causing significant property damage. Emergency teams were deployed to assess the situation and restore normalcy.

Poonch Suffers Heavy Losses After Landslide

The worst impact was reported from Poonch district, where torrential overnight rain triggered landslides and flash floods, leaving 11 people dead and seven others missing.

In Surankote, a landslide buried a house under debris, trapping eight members of a family. Rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of five victims, including two-year-old Sofian Yasir, while search operations continue to locate the remaining missing persons.

Authorities have intensified rescue efforts despite challenging weather conditions and unstable terrain.

Cloudburst Hits Kishtwar, Damages Homes and Farmland

A separate cloudburst in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district caused extensive destruction, damaging several residential houses, roads and agricultural fields.

Local administration teams have begun damage assessment, while relief measures are being coordinated for affected families.

Landslides Disrupt Kedarnath and Kailash Mansarovar Yatras

In neighbouring Uttarakhand, continuous rainfall triggered multiple landslides, disrupting important pilgrimage routes.

Authorities suspended horse and mule services on the Kedarnath Yatra route after debris blocked sections of the path. Meanwhile, the fourth batch of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, comprising around 50 devotees, was halted at Dharchula Base Camp in Pithoragarh after a landslide blocked the road near Garbadhar.

Officials said pilgrims would be allowed to proceed only after the route is declared safe.

Arunachal Floods Affect Over 1.49 Lakh People

The monsoon has also caused severe flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, where officials reported that 1,49,257 people across 26 districts, 328 administrative circles and 576 villages have been affected.

The state has recorded seven fatalities and 29 injuries due to floods and landslides during the current spell of heavy rainfall.

IMD Issues Fresh Rain Alerts

The India Meteorological Department has warned that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely to continue across northern and northeastern India.

For 20 July, red alerts have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, while orange alerts remain in effect for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal.

On 21 July, red alerts will continue for Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, with widespread heavy rainfall expected across eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and several northeastern states.

Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel and follow official weather advisories as rescue and relief operations continue.

Rainfall, thunderstorms and cloud cover brought a decisive end to the intense heatwave that had gripped large parts of India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming on Sunday that heatwave conditions have subsided nationwide.

Temperatures dropped sharply across several states as active weather systems triggered rain, strong winds and dust storms. While the change brought widespread relief from weeks of scorching heat, it also caused travel disruptions and affected religious events in some regions.

 Heatwave finally breaks

After prolonged spells of 45°C-plus temperatures in many areas, Sunday’s weather shift offered a visible respite. The IMD said the combination of moisture-laden winds and western disturbances led to the sudden change.

Officials noted that maximum temperatures in previously heatwave-hit zones fell by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius compared to earlier in the week.

 Rajasthan sees second dust storm

Parts of Rajasthan witnessed dust storms for a second consecutive day. On Sunday evening, a thick sandstorm hit Jaisalmer, turning daylight into near-darkness within minutes. Videos circulating from the area showed towering clouds of dust rolling across the desert landscape.

Phalodi, one of Rajasthan’s hottest towns, recorded a relatively lower maximum of 42.6°C. The state had already experienced a major dust storm on Saturday that affected Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh and Sikar – an area of nearly 200 square kilometres – with wind speeds reaching 56 kmph.

 50 rescued from swollen river in Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand’s Champawat district, more than 50 devotees attending the annual Jod Mela at Shri Reetha Sahib Gurudwara were stranded after a nearby river swelled due to heavy rain. Local authorities and security forces launched a rescue operation and evacuated everyone safely by late evening.

The sudden surge in river currents also disrupted movement in other parts of the hill state. Officials said no casualties have been reported.

 Kedarnath Yatra temporarily halted

Heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions forced authorities to suspend the Kedarnath Yatra as a precaution. Pilgrims already en route were advised to wait at designated stops until weather clears. The decision came after several stretches of the trek received intense downpour, increasing the risk of landslides.

 UP, Bengal see relief rain

Several Uttar Pradesh districts received moderate showers. Ballia recorded 34.4 mm of rain, Moradabad 21.8 mm, and Lucknow 2.4 mm. The state capital’s maximum temperature dropped to 36.3°C – nearly 4°C below normal – while the minimum settled at 24.7°C.

In Kolkata, afternoon rain accompanied by strong winds flipped umbrellas and caused waterlogging in low-lying areas. Pushkar in Rajasthan also saw heavy rain, leading to similar water accumulation on streets.

 Monsoon to reach Kerala by June 4, says IMD

The IMD has forecast that the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala around June 4. However, the agency warned that the upcoming rainy season may be weaker than normal. India could receive about 78 cm of rainfall between June and September, below the long-term average of 87 cm.

While Bihar and Uttar Pradesh may get near-normal rain, several other regions – particularly rain-fed agricultural zones – face the risk of below-normal precipitation.

 What to expect on June 2 and 3

Strong winds of 40–50 kmph are likely on June 2 over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Maharashtra and Karnataka may witness thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds. Widespread rainfall is expected across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

On June 3, thunderstorms with similar wind speeds are forecast for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, UP and Rajasthan, with dust storms likely in some areas. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar could see rain and lightning. The northeast will continue to receive heavy to very heavy showers.