The IMD rain alert issued this week covers seven states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Delhi, Karnataka, Assam and Kerala — with red and orange warnings in place as a deep depression drives torrential rain, flooding and landslide risk across India.
Key Takeaways
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Telangana and orange alerts for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Assam and Kerala.
- A deep depression over Chhattisgarh and adjoining Madhya Pradesh is keeping rainfall active across central and western India.
- Mumbai and Palghar are under an orange alert today, with “very heavy” rain expected to disrupt local trains and road traffic.
- Several districts may see school closures on July 31 as a precaution, though final calls rest with individual state governments.
Why Is the IMD Rain Alert So Widespread Right Now?
It comes down to one weather system. A deep depression formed over the Bay of Bengal and moved inland over Chhattisgarh and east Madhya Pradesh, and it has been unusually slow-moving — crawling westward at just 8 to 15 kmph over the past few days, according to IMD bulletins tracked through the week.
That sluggish pace matters more than the depression’s strength. A fast-moving system dumps rain and moves on. A slow one parks over a region and keeps feeding moisture into it for days, which is exactly what has happened across Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha and southeast Madhya Pradesh.
Add to that an active monsoon trough running across the country, and you get the pattern this week: rain in Gujarat, rain in Kerala, rain in Assam, all at once, for different local reasons but one shared cause — a monsoon that’s currently overachieving.
Which States Are Under Red or Orange Alert Today?
Alert levels change daily as the depression shifts, but here’s where things stood as IMD updated its warnings this week.
| State/Region | Alert Level | Main Risk |
| Telangana | Red | Extremely heavy rainfall, urban flooding |
| Maharashtra (10 districts) | Red/Orange | Heavy rain, landslide risk in Konkan belt |
| Mumbai & Palghar | Orange | Very heavy rain, waterlogging, train delays |
| Gujarat | Orange | Heavy to very heavy showers |
| Delhi | Orange | Heavy rainfall, waterlogging in low-lying areas |
| Karnataka | Orange | Heavy rain in coastal and Malnad districts |
| Assam | Orange | Flood risk from rising river levels |
| Kerala | Orange | Heavy rain, coastal warnings |
Himachal Pradesh isn’t in the red-alert bracket today, but IMD updates on road status there have been getting shared constantly this week — a reminder that hill states track rain damage (landslides, blocked roads) as closely as rainfall totals.
What Do the IMD’s Alert Colours Actually Mean?
This trips up a lot of people, so it’s worth spelling out plainly. IMD uses a four-colour code, and it’s less about how much it will rain and more about what you should do.
- Green: No warning. Normal weather expected.
- Yellow: Watch — be aware, and stay updated on the situation.
- Orange: Be prepared — significant weather likely, with potential for disruption to travel and daily routine.
- Red: Take action — severe weather that can cause serious damage, and authorities may act on it directly (closing schools, halting transport).
So an orange alert in Mumbai today isn’t just a heads-up — it’s IMD’s way of saying keep an eye on train and flight status before you leave home. For the official state-wise bulletin and satellite updates, the India Meteorological Department’s website publishes live warnings district by district.
Will Schools Be Closed Tomorrow, July 31?
This is the question most parents are actually typing into Google right now. The honest answer: it depends entirely on the district, and decisions are usually announced late in the evening or early morning by the local district collector or municipal body, not by IMD itself.
IMD only issues the weather warning. The call to shut schools sits with state education departments and district administrations, based on local flooding, waterlogging or road safety. In past red-alert days, cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad and parts of Gujarat have announced closures with only a few hours’ notice.
If your district is under red alert today, checking your local municipal corporation’s website or a state education department notice tonight is more reliable than any national list, since these calls are made city by city.
How Does This Compare to a Typical Monsoon Week?
This isn’t a one-off cloudburst — it’s what meteorologists call an “active” to “vigorous” monsoon phase, which typically happens two or three times a season when a depression and the monsoon trough line up. Rainfall in an active phase can run 50-100% above the weekly normal for affected states, though the exact multiplier varies by district and is confirmed only after IMD’s post-season review.
What makes this spell notable is its spread. Usually an active monsoon phase favours either the west coast or the east coast, not both plus the northeast simultaneously. Seeing Gujarat, Telangana, Assam and Kerala all flagged in the same week points to how the depression and trough are interacting right now — a genuinely national event rather than a regional one.
What Should You Actually Do During a Red or Orange Alert?
- Avoid non-essential travel through low-lying roads, underpasses and known waterlogging spots.
- Keep phone charged and check state disaster management handles for real-time flood or landslide updates.
- In hill areas, avoid travel on routes with recent landslide history until roads are cleared.
- Store drinking water and basic supplies if you’re in a flood-prone locality — power and water cuts are common during red-alert days.
- Follow local authority announcements over social media rumours for school and office closure decisions.
FAQ
What does an IMD red alert mean?
A red alert means IMD expects extremely heavy rainfall capable of causing serious damage, and it calls on authorities to take direct action, including possible school and transport shutdowns.
Which states have the IMD rain alert today?
As of this week, Telangana is under a red alert, while Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Assam and Kerala have orange alerts due to the deep depression and an active monsoon trough.
Why is Mumbai getting heavy rain right now?
Mumbai and neighbouring Palghar are under an orange alert because the monsoon trough is currently active over the west coast, pulling in moisture that’s producing “very heavy” rainfall spells.
Will schools be closed on July 31?
That depends on the district. IMD issues the weather warning, but individual state education departments and district collectors decide on school closures, usually announced the evening before.
How long will this heavy rain spell last?
It depends on how quickly the deep depression weakens and moves on. IMD bulletins are updated every six hours, and forecasts beyond 2-3 days are subject to change as the system develops.
Conclusion
The IMD rain alert this week reflects a genuinely unusual monsoon spread — a slow-moving depression combined with an active trough hitting states from Gujarat to Assam at once. Until the system weakens, the safest move is simple: check your local alert level before stepping out, and don’t rely on WhatsApp forwards for school closure news.