IMD forecasts heavy rain across India on 8 August; Delhi NCR flooded
Synopsis
The IMD has put virtually the entire country on rain alert for 8 August, with Odisha under a very heavy rainfall warning and Delhi NCR already reeling from Friday's deluge that left water four feet deep near the Air Force Station on MB Road. This is one of the broadest simultaneous rain warnings of the 2025 monsoon season.
Key Takeaways
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across northwest, central, east, northeast, west, and peninsular India on 8 August .
Odisha faces a specific very heavy rainfall warning; Bihar , Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand , and Coastal Karnataka are also on alert.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea areas off Oman , Karnataka , and Kerala coasts.
Delhi NCR was battered by torrential rain on Friday , with waterlogging reaching nearly 4 feet near MB Road's Air Force Station .
Air Force trucks were deployed to assist stranded commuters; major routes including ITO , Rohtak Road , and the Delhi-Jaipur Highway saw severe traffic disruption.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across large swathes of India on Saturday, 8 August, covering northwest, central, eastern, northeastern, western, and peninsular regions. The warning, issued on Friday night, urges residents in flood-prone and waterlogging-vulnerable areas to exercise caution.
Region-wise Rainfall Forecast
In northern India, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is expected over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi also in line for widespread rain. Heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh and West Rajasthan, while East Rajasthan may see heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations.
In eastern India, widespread rainfall is expected over Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. The IMD has issued a specific warning for very heavy rainfall over Odisha on 8 August, while Bihar is likely to continue receiving widespread rain.
The Northeast is expected to remain wet, with heavy rainfall forecast at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and neighbouring northeastern states. In western India, widespread rainfall is likely over Konkan and Goa, with parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat also expected to receive rain.
In peninsular and southern India, the IMD has forecast heavy rainfall over Coastal Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka, with very heavy rainfall possible in isolated pockets. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds are also likely over parts of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Fishermen Advisory
The IMD has warned fishermen against venturing into several sea areas, including along and off the coasts of Oman, Karnataka, and Kerala, citing adverse weather conditions at sea. Authorities have urged fishing communities to stay ashore until conditions improve.
Delhi NCR Flooding on Friday
Torrential rain lashed Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday, flooding roads, disrupting traffic, and triggering multiple emergency incidents. South Delhi's MB Road, particularly near the Air Force Station, witnessed some of the worst waterlogging, with water reportedly reaching nearly four feet — leaving vehicles stranded and traffic severely disrupted.
Several motorcycles and autorickshaws reportedly stalled after entering flooded stretches. Air Force trucks were deployed to assist movement through some inundated areas. Traffic remained slow on major routes including ITO, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Wazirabad Road, Kirti Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, and areas around Badarpur Border Metro Station. Flooded subways and submerged roads compounded commuters' difficulties.
What to Watch
With the monsoon system active across virtually every major region simultaneously, urban flooding risks remain elevated through the weekend. Residents in low-lying areas and near water bodies in the states under IMD warning are advised to stay alert and follow local authority advisories.
Point of View
Not the forecast itself. Delhi's MB Road flooding to four feet, with Air Force trucks pressed into civilian traffic duty, is not a weather failure alone; it is a drainage infrastructure failure that recurs every monsoon. The states under warning today — Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka — have varying track records on flood response, and the gap between IMD's increasingly accurate alerts and on-ground readiness remains the story that outlasts each rain event.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states are under IMD heavy rain warning on 8 August?
The IMD has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings covering Odisha, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh, East and West Rajasthan, Coastal Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Konkan and Goa, and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh on 8 August.
Why did Delhi flood on Friday, 8 August?
Torrential rain lashed Delhi and the NCR on Friday, overwhelming drainage systems and causing severe waterlogging across multiple areas. South Delhi's MB Road near the Air Force Station saw water levels reportedly reach nearly four feet, stranding vehicles and prompting Air Force trucks to assist traffic movement.
Has the IMD issued any advisory for fishermen?
Yes, the IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into sea areas along and off the coasts of Oman, Karnataka, and Kerala due to adverse weather conditions. Fishing communities in these coastal zones have been urged to remain ashore until conditions ease.
What areas in Delhi saw the worst waterlogging on Friday?
South Delhi's MB Road near the Air Force Station experienced the worst waterlogging, with water reportedly reaching nearly four feet. Major routes including ITO, Patel Road, Rohtak Road, Wazirabad Road, Kirti Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, and areas near Badarpur Border Metro Station also saw severe disruption.
What precautions has the IMD advised for Saturday?
The IMD has advised residents in areas vulnerable to waterlogging, flooding, and rain-related disruptions to remain cautious. People in the affected states should avoid low-lying areas, follow local authority advisories, and fishermen along warned coastlines should not go to sea.
