The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several northern states as heavy rainfall continues to lash multiple regions, raising concerns over flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging. The warning covers Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.

According to the latest nowcast, moderate to intense rain spells are expected over the next three hours in these areas. In Jammu & Kashmir, districts under red alert include Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. Punjab’s Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are also on high alert. Himachal Pradesh districts Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan face similar warnings, along with Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar.

Between 8:30 am Tuesday and 5:30 am Wednesday, Reasi recorded the highest rainfall at 203 mm, followed by Katra (193 mm), Batote (157.3 mm), and Doda (114 mm). Jammu city saw 81 mm of rain, while Banihal (95 mm), Ramban (82 mm), and Kokernag (68.2 mm) also reported significant precipitation. Fresh data up to 6:45 am on September 3 indicated extremely heavy rainfall in Reasi at 230.5 mm.

Heavy rains also affected several other states, including Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, coastal Odisha, coastal Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, and the Andaman Islands.

In response to worsening conditions, all government and private schools across Jammu Division will remain closed on September 3 for safety reasons, the Directorate of School Education Jammu announced.