Cyclone Gulab Update: IMD Warns of Heavy Rainfall in Several States Today

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced today (September 28, 2021) that Cyclone Gulab, which made landfall on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast on Sunday evening, has already turned to a Depression bringing heavy rains in many states.

The IMD stated in its bulletin that the Depression over north Telangana and adjoining south Chattisgarh and Vidarbha was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 13 kmph and was centred about 135 kilometres east of Nizamabad (Telangana) and 270 kilometres south-southeast of Nagpur Sonegaon (Vidarbha).

"During the next 12 hours, it is expected to travel west-northwestwards and diminish into a Well-Marked Low Pressure Area. The system is expected to emerge into the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Gujarat coast around September 30 evening, and it is possible that the system may develop over the northeast Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours "the meteorological department said .

Rainfall warning:

According to the IMD, Telangana is very likely to get light to moderate rainfall in most places today, with heavy to very severe and extremely heavy rains in isolated areas. Heavy to very heavy rains are also expected in isolated areas throughout Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat and Goa may also see mild to moderate rainfall in most areas, with severe to very heavy and extremely heavy rains in isolated areas.

Telangana's offices, schools, and colleges will be shut today:

The Telangana government has declared a holiday for all government offices, private organisations, schools, and educational institutions today due to the persistent rainfall and the imminent forecast of heavy rains. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao made the decision in the midst of the IMD's red alert for 14 districts in the state. Heavy rain was predicted in Nirmal, Nizamabad, Jagityal, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, Peddapally, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Warangal (Rural), Warangal (Urban), Janagaon, Siddipet, and Kamareddy districts.

Cyclone Gulab's influence kills two in Bihar:

On Monday afternoon, the influence of Cyclone Gulab killed two siblings and left one injured in Bihar's Begusarai district.

The deceased had allegedly gone into the jungle to collect leaves and wood for cooking when rain began to start in the region. When they tried to take shelter under a tree, it was struck by lightning, killing two of them on the spot.