Bengaluru, October 21: The Bengaluru District Collector has declared a holiday for all schools and anganwadis in the city today due to severe rainfall across the region. This decision follows the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) warning about widespread heavy rainfall expected to affect Karnataka and other coastal areas of India.
The IMD has attributed the current rainfall to an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, which is intensifying and expected to develop into a cyclonic storm by October 23. The storm is projected to impact the Odisha-West Bengal coast in the coming days, further exacerbating the weather conditions.
Heavy Rainfall in Coastal and Southern India
In addition to Karnataka, the IMD has issued heavy rainfall alerts for several other regions, including Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal and North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Andhra Pradesh.
“Very heavy rainfall is likely to occur over South Interior Karnataka and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands,” the IMD announced, cautioning residents and local authorities to be prepared for potential disruptions.
Cyclonic Storm Expected to Intensify
A low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, with meteorologists closely monitoring its movement. The IMD has indicated that the system is likely to make landfall along the Odisha-West Bengal coast later this week. While the exact location of landfall remains uncertain, weather models have suggested the storm could hit near Puri, Odisha.
“A low-pressure area is very likely to form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea in the next 24 hours,” the IMD stated. “It is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensifying into a depression by October 22 morning and a cyclonic storm by October 23.”
Authorities on High Alert
With the risk of intense rainfall and possible flooding, authorities across affected states are on high alert, especially in coastal areas. IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra warned that some regions could experience up to 30 cm of rainfall over October 24-25, with isolated areas possibly seeing even more.
Residents in affected areas are urged to take precautions, avoid non-essential travel, and stay informed about further weather updates from local authorities. Emergency services are being mobilized to respond to any disruptions caused by the approaching storm.
As the storm continues to develop, both the central and state governments are coordinating efforts to minimize the impact on infrastructure and the local population, ensuring adequate preparedness for potential flooding and damage.
Read Now:New Study Reveals Why Kindergarten Aged Children Tend to Overexplore
