Bay of Bengal deep depression lashes Jharkhand, 4 flights diverted from Ranchi
Synopsis
A Bay of Bengal deep depression has battered Jharkhand for four straight days — diverting four flights from Ranchi, damaging a bridge in Khunti, and bringing temperatures crashing 5.3°C below normal. While the deluge has trimmed the state's monsoon deficit to just 5%, the IMD has put eight districts on alert with no clear break until September 28.
Key Takeaways
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has disrupted Jharkhand for four consecutive days as of 25 September 2026 .
Four flights were unable to land at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport ; services diverted to Varanasi and Kolkata .
Winds of 40–50 kmph uprooted trees in Ranchi; a bridge over the Banai river in Khunti was damaged.
Jharkhand's monsoon deficit has narrowed to just 5 per cent ; Ranchi is 9 per cent above normal at 1,295.1 mm .
IMD has issued Orange and Yellow alerts for 8 districts including Palamu, Hazaribagh, and Deoghar.
Weather is expected to stabilise from 28 September .
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has triggered heavy rainfall and gusty winds across Jharkhand for four consecutive days, severely disrupting daily life in the state capital Ranchi and neighbouring districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange and Yellow alerts for eight districts as the system continues to move in a northwesterly direction.
Air Traffic Hit at Birsa Munda Airport
Poor visibility and adverse conditions forced four flights scheduled to land at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport on Friday morning to abandon their approaches. Flights arriving from Pune and Delhi were diverted to Varanasi, while services from Mumbai were turned back to Kolkata. A Delhi-Ranchi service also had its schedule revised, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. The disruptions underscore how quickly a Bay of Bengal weather system can cascade into connectivity losses for a landlocked state dependent on a single major airport.
Roads, Bridges and Infrastructure Damaged
Gusty winds blowing at 40–50 kmph uprooted several trees in Ranchi, with fallen timber blocking roads and damaging vehicles in areas including AG More, Kadru, Kokar, and near Surendranath School. In neighbouring Khunti district, a bridge over the Banai river in Torpa sustained damage due to the inclement weather. Schools have been closed as a precautionary measure in several districts across the state.
Rainfall Data and Temperature Drop
The prolonged spell has helped narrow Jharkhand's monsoon rainfall deficit from a wider gap to just 5 per cent. Between 1 June and 24 September, the state recorded 935.7 mm of cumulative rainfall, close to the seasonal average. Ranchi alone received 1,295.1 mm during the same period — 9 per cent above normal. The city's maximum temperature plunged 5.3 degrees Celsius below normal to settle at 24.3 degrees Celsius.
IMD Alerts and Districts Under Watch
The IMD has placed eight districts — Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, and Deoghar — under Orange and Yellow alerts for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on 25 September. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is expected to persist on 26 and 27 September. Authorities have advised residents to stay away from open fields, trees, and electric poles during lightning activity, and to exercise caution in waterlogged areas.
Outlook: Relief Expected from September 28
Weather conditions are forecast to stabilise from 28 September, according to the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi, offering the state relief from a prolonged and damaging monsoon spell. The coming days will be critical for infrastructure repair and restoration of normal transport links.
Point of View
Often overshadowed by cyclone coverage, can deliver significant damage without reaching cyclonic intensity. Ranchi's single-airport dependency amplifies the connectivity risk every time a weather system moves northwestward — a structural vulnerability that repeated disruptions this monsoon season have done little to resolve. The silver lining — a narrowing rainfall deficit — should not obscure the fact that the same rainfall is damaging bridges and road networks that the state can ill afford to rebuild annually. Climate adaptation investment in Jharkhand's infrastructure has not kept pace with the frequency of such events.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is causing heavy rain in Jharkhand right now?
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, moving in a northwesterly direction, is responsible for the heavy rainfall and strong winds across Jharkhand since 22 September 2026. The system has triggered widespread precipitation, gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, and a sharp drop in temperatures.
Which flights were affected at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport?
Four flights scheduled to land at Birsa Munda Airport on Friday morning were diverted due to poor visibility. Flights from Pune and Delhi were sent to Varanasi, while Mumbai-origin flights were turned back to Kolkata, and a Delhi-Ranchi service had its schedule revised.
Which districts in Jharkhand are under IMD alert on September 25?
The IMD has issued Orange and Yellow alerts for eight districts — Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, and Deoghar — for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on 25 September 2026.
When will the rain in Jharkhand stop?
Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is expected to continue on 26 and 27 September. The Meteorological Centre in Ranchi forecasts that weather conditions will stabilise from 28 September, providing relief after a prolonged wet spell.
How has the rain affected Jharkhand's monsoon deficit?
The prolonged rainfall has reduced Jharkhand's monsoon deficit to just 5 per cent. Between 1 June and 24 September, the state recorded 935.7 mm of rainfall, while Ranchi alone received 1,295.1 mm — 9 per cent above normal for the period.
