A temporary pause in monsoon activity has sent temperatures soaring across large parts of northern India, with several states recording maximum temperatures above 38°C even as devastating floods continue to affect thousands in the Northeast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has simultaneously warned of heavy rainfall over eastern India, particularly in Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal, over the next two days.

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 38°C on Tuesday, while Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh continued to experience hot and humid conditions due to the weakening of monsoon activity across the region.

Heat Grips Northern States

The ongoing monsoon break has led to a sharp rise in daytime temperatures across northern India for the past three days. High humidity combined with soaring temperatures has made weather conditions particularly uncomfortable in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states.

Although parts of Delhi received light evening showers, providing temporary relief, the IMD expects hot and humid conditions to persist in several northern and northwestern states through July 16.

Floods Continue to Batter Northeast

While northern India battles intense heat, the Northeast remains in the grip of severe flooding and landslides.

In Arunachal Pradesh, floods and landslides have affected 102,917 people across four districts. The disaster has claimed seven lives, while 29 people have sustained injuries, according to official figures.

In neighbouring Assam, floodwaters have inundated six districts, impacting 37,032 people across 12 revenue circles and 99 villages. Lakhimpur remains the worst-affected district, accounting for nearly 36,000 affected residents.

Authorities continue rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood-hit regions as rivers remain swollen following heavy rainfall over the past week.

Heavy Rain Warning for Rath Yatra

The IMD has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, scheduled to begin on Thursday.

The weather system is being driven by a low-pressure area expected to form over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining western Bangladesh coast within the next 24 hours. The system is likely to trigger widespread rainfall across coastal Odisha from Wednesday through Friday morning.

Officials have advised devotees travelling for the Rath Yatra to remain alert and follow local weather advisories.

Weather Outlook for July 16–17

According to the IMD forecast, July 16 will see continued hot and humid conditions over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Rayalaseema.

An orange alert has been issued for heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms over Odisha and West Bengal, while strong winds are expected across Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Heavy rainfall is also forecast over Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur.

On July 17, rain activity is expected to continue across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Odisha and the northeastern states. An orange alert for heavy rainfall has also been issued for parts of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir.

Weather officials have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious, particularly in regions prone to flooding, landslides and waterlogging.

The southwest monsoon continued to batter large parts of northern India on Friday, triggering widespread flooding, landslides and rain-related deaths across several states, even as meteorologists linked the changing weather pattern to the influence of Super Typhoon Bavi over the western Pacific.

Heavy rainfall affected Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, disrupting transport, damaging infrastructure and prompting rescue operations. At least 13 people lost their lives in rain and lightning-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while authorities remained on high alert in several flood-prone districts.

According to weather reports, the formation of Super Typhoon Bavi has temporarily weakened the southwest monsoon current over parts of the Indian subcontinent. Despite this, localized heavy rainfall has continued due to active low-pressure systems and moisture-laden winds, resulting in intense downpours across northern and central India.

Delhi Witnesses Waterlogging

The national capital recorded persistent rainfall over the past 24 hours, leading to severe waterlogging in several areas. Tukhmirpur received nearly 160 mm of rainfall, making it one of the wettest locations in the city.

Major roads, including Vikas Marg, Sangam Vihar, Dwarka, Munirka and areas near New Delhi Railway Station, remained inundated for several hours, slowing traffic movement. Flooding was also reported around Ghazipur Mandi, while a tree uprooted during the storm fell onto a parked vehicle.

Uttarakhand Pilgrimage Routes Hit

In Uttarakhand, continuous rainfall caused significant damage to road connectivity in the hill districts.

Nearly 100 metres of the Yamunotri Highway in Uttarkashi was washed away, leaving around 1,000 pilgrims stranded. Authorities have deployed teams to restore connectivity while ensuring the safety of stranded devotees.

The Adi Kailash route in Pithoragarh was closed after repeated rockfalls, and landslides blocked sections of the Gangotri National Highway. Rescue teams cleared debris from affected stretches to restore traffic.

In Haridwar, several low-lying areas remained submerged under three to four feet of water. A tourist's SUV became trapped in the Neeldhara River and was pulled out after a two-hour rescue operation using heavy machinery. In nearby Rishikesh, local residents rescued a scooter rider who was swept away while attempting to cross a swollen river.

Rain Claims Lives in UP and Bihar

Rain-related incidents claimed 10 lives in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

In Bulandshahr, two members of the same family died after an old mosque wall collapsed during heavy rainfall. In Hardoi, two sisters were swept away by a swollen river, while several other fatalities were reported from separate incidents linked to collapsing structures, drowning and electrocution.

In neighbouring Bihar, one person died after being struck by lightning in Gopalganj.

State disaster response teams have been deployed in vulnerable districts, while district administrations have advised residents to avoid waterlogged areas and overflowing rivers.

Rajasthan and Himachal Also Affected

Heavy rain also disrupted normal life in Rajasthan, where a house collapsed in Dholpur, trapping six people beneath the debris. Rescue operations were launched immediately.

The adverse weather affected railway services as well, with six trains cancelled and several others running behind schedule.

In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, incessant rain caused a retaining wall to collapse, blocking roads and leaving several vehicles stranded. Local authorities said timely action prevented a major accident, while electricity officials assessed damage to power infrastructure.

Authorities Continue Monitoring Situation

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rainfall may continue in several northern states over the coming days, urging people living near rivers, landslide-prone areas and low-lying regions to remain cautious.

Disaster management agencies have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall and to follow local administration advisories as rescue and restoration work continues across affected regions.