Heavy rain alert for several states amid changing weather; rivers in spate

With an active monsoon system over central and western India, the weather department has issued a heavy to very heavy rain alert for 11 states for the next 72 hours. According to the department, a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is slowly moving westward.

Authorities have made public announcements in riverside villages advising people to move to safer places. Twenty-four teams of the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in vulnerable districts, and relief equipment such as boats, ropes and life jackets has been positioned in advance.

Administration's preparations

Separate control rooms have been set up to keep power supply and road connectivity running. Officials said decisions about schools will be taken district by district based on local conditions.

• Stay away from rivers and drains, and avoid waterlogged roads.
• In an emergency, contact the district control room or local administration.
• Rely only on official updates from the weather department.

“Caution is essential for the next three days. Teams are already deployed in areas that have seen waterlogging before.”