News for 'Director State Meteorological Department'

Fog envelopes northern states; cold wave grips Delhi, red alert in UP

Fog envelopes northern states; cold wave grips Delhi, red alert in UP

Rediff.com20 Dec 2025

The national capital was in the grip of a cold wave, with the sun largely obscured by clouds and pollutants lingering in the atmosphere, leading to reduced visibility. At least 129 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport on Saturday due to dense fog, according to an official.

North India reels under near-freezing temperatures

North India reels under near-freezing temperatures

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

A severe cold wave has gripped North India, with temperatures plummeting to near-freezing levels in several areas. The cold wave has disrupted daily life, with dense fog affecting visibility and forcing people to stay indoors.

North India shivers: Delhi coldest in 3 years, record chill in Chandigarh

North India shivers: Delhi coldest in 3 years, record chill in Chandigarh

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

Delhi recorded its coldest January morning in three years with the minimum temperature dropping to 3 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions are expected to persist, and air quality has deteriorated to the 'very poor' category.

Cold Days Ahead After Warm 2025

Cold Days Ahead After Warm 2025

Rediff.com2 Jan 2026

Above-normal cold wave days are expected in some areas of central India, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during January 2026.

India Set for Colder Plains, Warmer Hills

India Set for Colder Plains, Warmer Hills

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

The winters could be cooler in the plains due to the prevailing La Nina conditions though it does not have a direct relationship and also due to influence of the polar vortex.

Cyclone Montha: Andhra prepares action plan for relief, essential supplies

Cyclone Montha: Andhra prepares action plan for relief, essential supplies

Rediff.com26 Oct 2025

The Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action plan for relief and essential supplies in pre-cyclone preparedness for Cyclone Montha, expected to cross the coast on October 28.

'Severe cyclone' Montha to make landfall near Andhra coast on Tuesday

'Severe cyclone' Montha to make landfall near Andhra coast on Tuesday

Rediff.com27 Oct 2025

The Odisha government has initiated evacuations and deployed disaster response teams in anticipation of Cyclone 'Montha', which is expected to impact the southern and coastal regions of the state.

Delhi gears up for first artificial rain through cloud seeding

Delhi gears up for first artificial rain through cloud seeding

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

Delhi is preparing for its first artificial rain through cloud seeding to combat air pollution. A trial run was successful, and the first rainfall is expected on October 29 if weather conditions are favorable.

Flight carrying Assam CM diverted to Agartala due to bad weather

Flight carrying Assam CM diverted to Agartala due to bad weather

Rediff.com25 Aug 2025

The aircraft, later, flew to Guwahati after an improvement in the weather conditions in Guwahati, said KC Meena, the director of the Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport at Agartala.

153 dead as Ditwah leaves trail of destruction in Lanka; rain pounds TN

153 dead as Ditwah leaves trail of destruction in Lanka; rain pounds TN

Rediff.com29 Nov 2025

Cyclone Ditwah exits Sri Lanka after causing widespread destruction and over 120 deaths, heading towards the Indian coast. Heavy rains and high winds are expected to continue.

'Next 48 hours crucial': 10 dead, hundreds displaced as rain lash Maha

'Next 48 hours crucial': 10 dead, hundreds displaced as rain lash Maha

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

Heavy rains in Maharashtra have caused floods, road blockages, and widespread damage, resulting in casualties and displacement. The state government is monitoring the situation and coordinating rescue efforts.

Heavy rain paralyses Mumbai; train services suspended

Heavy rain paralyses Mumbai; train services suspended

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

Heavy rains caused severe waterlogging, traffic jams, and disruptions to local train services in Mumbai. Schools and colleges were closed due to a 'red alert' issued by the IMD.

India braces for wet September; IMD warns of flash floods, landslides

India braces for wet September; IMD warns of flash floods, landslides

Rediff.com31 Aug 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts above-normal rainfall for India in September, following a monsoon season marked by heavy downpours and related disasters in various regions. The forecast indicates normal to above-normal rainfall for most areas, with some exceptions in the northeast, east, extreme south peninsular India, and parts of northwest India.

Monsoon Mayhem Forces Change In Travel Plans

Monsoon Mayhem Forces Change In Travel Plans

Rediff.com29 Aug 2025

Strong demand for cultural and spiritual hubs is expected for destinations like Varanasi, Kolkata during Durga Puja, and Pushkar for the camel fair, besides leisure destinations like Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur and Coorg.

Lightning: India's Deadliest Hazard

Lightning: India's Deadliest Hazard

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

Lightning claims more lives in India annually than any other extreme weather event. Between April and July this year alone, 1,621 people died due to lightning strikes.

India braces for above-normal June rains, cooler temperatures: IMD

India braces for above-normal June rains, cooler temperatures: IMD

Rediff.com27 May 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal rainfall across India in June, with most parts of the country likely to experience normal to below-normal maximum temperatures. The IMD also anticipates above-normal minimum temperatures across most of the country, except for some parts of central India and the adjoining south peninsula. The southwest monsoon reached Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2009. The monsoon is crucial for India's agriculture-dependent economy, providing vital water for crops and supporting drinking water and hydropower generation.

Skymet Predicts Normal Monsoon

Skymet Predicts Normal Monsoon

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

Skymet expects a good monsoon over western and southern India.

Andhra, Telangana rain toll at 33; flood waters recede in both states

Andhra, Telangana rain toll at 33; flood waters recede in both states

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart Revanth Reddy visited some inundated areas in their respective territories.

All 80 persons stranded at Goa waterfall rescued

All 80 persons stranded at Goa waterfall rescued

Rediff.com7 Jul 2024

All 80 people stuck at Pali waterfall in Goa's Sattari taluka were rescued on Sunday by the state's Fire and Emergency Services and the police, an official said.

South Gujarat receives heavy rains; more showers likely in next 1 week

South Gujarat receives heavy rains; more showers likely in next 1 week

Rediff.com4 Sep 2024

The weather office has issued a forecast of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in several districts of Gujarat over the next one week.

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Be Prepared! Heat Waves Coming!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

'The intensity and frequency of heatwaves will be much higher than in previous years over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.'

Orange alert sounded as Kerala is lashed by intense rains

Orange alert sounded as Kerala is lashed by intense rains

Rediff.com23 May 2024

Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala on Thursday, leading to waterlogging in the low-lying areas of major cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Thrissur.

Cyclone Fengal makes landfall near Puducherry; Chennai airport shutdown

Cyclone Fengal makes landfall near Puducherry; Chennai airport shutdown

Rediff.com30 Nov 2024

Cyclonic storm Fengal has commenced making landfall close to Puducherry and it may approximately take 4 hours for it to cross the coast completely, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said. The process of the cyclone's landfall commenced at about 5.30 pm on November 30. The IMD said the forward sector of spiral bands associated with the cyclone has entered into the land and is likely to move west-southwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during next 3 to 4 hours.

Rain fury wreaks havoc in Northeast; lakhs hit, toll at 36

Rain fury wreaks havoc in Northeast; lakhs hit, toll at 36

Rediff.com3 Jun 2025

So far, over 30 people have died across Northeastern states due to heavy rainfalls, floods and landslides, according to media reports.

Heatwave claims 25 poll personnel among 40 as north India boils

Heatwave claims 25 poll personnel among 40 as north India boils

Rediff.com31 May 2024

Among the fatalities recorded on Friday, the maximum 17 were from Uttar Pradesh, 14 from Bihar, five from Odisha and four from Jharkhand, where officials said more than 1,300 people are hospitalised with heatstroke conditions.

Pre-monsoon rains claim 11 lives in Kerala in a week

Pre-monsoon rains claim 11 lives in Kerala in a week

Rediff.com25 May 2024

As heavy rains continue to lash Kerala, the India meteorological department on Friday issued an orange alert in eight districts in Kerala for Friday.

Wayanad landslides linked to warming of Arabian Sea: Scientist

Wayanad landslides linked to warming of Arabian Sea: Scientist

Rediff.com31 Jul 2024

He said scientists have noticed a trend of very deep cloud systems developing over the southeast Arabian Sea, and added that sometimes, these systems intrude into the land, like in 2019.

Southwest Monsoon to reach Kerala on May 31 amid El Nino concerns

Southwest Monsoon to reach Kerala on May 31 amid El Nino concerns

Rediff.com15 May 2024

"This year, the Southwest Monsoon is likely to set over Kerala on May 31 with a model error of four days," the India meteorological department said on Wednesday.

Cyclone Dana: Lakhs evacuated; flights, trains suspended

Cyclone Dana: Lakhs evacuated; flights, trains suspended

Rediff.com24 Oct 2024

As Cyclone Dana barrels toward the coasts of Odisha, threatening to impact nearly half of the state's population, the government is racing against time to execute a massive evacuation plan aimed at relocating about 10 lakh people in several coastal districts to safety. In West Bengal, the cyclone is set to bring heavy rainfall in several southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

India gets 16% higher rainfall, more to come in September

India gets 16% higher rainfall, more to come in September

Rediff.com31 Aug 2024

India recorded around 16 per cent more rainfall than normal in August, with rainfall over Northwest India recorded at 253.9 mm, the second highest in August since 2001, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

June-Aug 2024 was India's 2nd-hottest quarter since 1970: Report

June-Aug 2024 was India's 2nd-hottest quarter since 1970: Report

Rediff.com18 Sep 2024

India experienced its second-hottest quarter from June to August this year since 1970, with over one-third of the country's population enduring at least seven days of dangerous heat, according to a new report by a United States-based group of climate scientists and communicators.

After Nivar, cyclone 'Burevi' to hit TN on Dec 4

After Nivar, cyclone 'Burevi' to hit TN on Dec 4

Rediff.com1 Dec 2020

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm by late Tuesday night, the IMD said.

Earthquake tremors felt in Nepal, India

Earthquake tremors felt in Nepal, India

Rediff.com16 May 2015

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale was felt in Patna and other parts of Bihar on Saturday evening but there was no report of damage due it.

Cyclone Tauktae expected to become very severe cyclonic storm by Sunday: IMD

Cyclone Tauktae expected to become very severe cyclonic storm by Sunday: IMD

Rediff.com15 May 2021

The IMD director said, the cyclonic storm Tauktae in the Arabian sea is moving away from the Kerala coast and is now approaching the Karnataka coast.

Michaung damages infra in Andhra, subsides into cyclonic storm

Michaung damages infra in Andhra, subsides into cyclonic storm

Rediff.com6 Dec 2023

Severe cyclonic storm Michaung crossed south Andhra Pradesh coast close to Bapatla district between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm on Tuesday with maximum gales of up to 90-100 km per hour speed, said an Amaravati Meteorological Centre official.

Delhi govt plans artificial rain to curb air pollution

Delhi govt plans artificial rain to curb air pollution

Rediff.com8 Nov 2023

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that inducing artificial rain can only be attempted when there are clouds or moisture available.

Thunder squall and rains hit Bihar's relief work

Thunder squall and rains hit Bihar's relief work

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

Already battling Saturday's high intensity earthquake and aftershocks, major parts of Bihar were on Tuesday hit by thunder squall followed by rains hampering relief work.

Delhi swelters at 47 degrees C, red alert issued for next 5 days

Delhi swelters at 47 degrees C, red alert issued for next 5 days

Rediff.com20 May 2024

The searing heat pushed the city's peak power demand to its highest for May, while the Delhi government directed the schools that have not closed for summer vacations to do so with immediate effect.

25 killed, several missing as stone quarry collapses in Mizoram

25 killed, several missing as stone quarry collapses in Mizoram

Rediff.com29 May 2024

Aizawl has been cut off from the rest of the country due to a landslide on National Highway 6 at Hunthar.

Rains lash Tamil Nadu, schools closed in many districts

Rains lash Tamil Nadu, schools closed in many districts

Rediff.com13 Dec 2024

Widespread rains lashed parts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday, prompting authorities to declare a holiday for schools in Chennai and many other districts.