Isolated heavy rainfall is likely to hit Kerala, Tamil Nadu and interior Karnataka during the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a weather forecast on Sunday. Northeast and eastern parts of India are also likely to get heavy rainfall throughout the week, the weather department said.
"Isolated very heavy rainfall also very likely over Tamil Nadu on 11th, 14th & 15th; Kerala & Mahe on 11th, 13th and 14th August," IMD's weekly weather forecast said. From Monday to Thursday, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala, Tamil Nadu and north interior Karnataka, it added. For the next seven days, southern India can expect "scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall."
In the northern parts of the country, very heavy rainfall may hit eastern Rajasthan on Monday, the release said. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, eastern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh should brace for "isolated heavy rainfall" for the entire week. The IMD also predicted a cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam extending up to middle tropospheric levels.
Assam, Meghalaya Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are among the states of the northeast given rain warnings for the week. Monday (Aug 12) and Wednesday (Aug 14) in particular can be rain days, the release warned.
Meanwhile, at least 28 people died in rain-related incidents Sunday as heavy downpours lashed north and northwest India, causing landslides, traffic chaosand house collapses, as well as a dam breach which inundated several villages in Haryana.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration said the annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended after heavy rains in the Shri Amarnathji Yatra area.
This was the second straight day of heavy rains in the region with Rajasthan being the worst hit as the state reported 16 deaths over two days -- two on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. Its Karauli district recorded "exceptionally heavy rainfall" of 38 cm.