Flash Flood Warnings Issued Across India and Globally Amid Heavy Rainfall; Thousands at Risk

As heavy rainfall continues worldwide, flash flood warnings have been raised in several parts of India and globally, threatening thousands of lives and homes.

Impact on India

In India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts heavy to extremely heavy rainfall with flash flood risks in North Bengal districts such as Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, impacting over 3 million people living in these regions. The red alert covers areas where approximately 750,000 households are vulnerable to flooding and landslides due to saturated soil and hilly terrain.

In South India, states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana face similar threats. An estimated 4 million residents living in flood-prone districts may be affected as intense rains continue. In Telangana alone, 14 districts are under flash flood alert, placing nearly 2 million people and over 500,000 homes at risk until late October 30.

Authorities have urged residents to take preventive precautions, including evacuations where necessary. Emergency shelters are being set up in vulnerable zones while relief teams remain on standby.

Global Flash Flood Risks

Worldwide, millions are threatened by floods caused by intense rainfall and tropical cyclones. Parts of tropical Africa, including Nigeria and South Sudan, face critical flooding affecting close to 10 million people and displacing hundreds of thousands from their homes. River floods along major waterways such as the Niger and Logone Rivers impact thousands of villages, inundating agricultural lands and destroying infrastructure.

The Caribbean islands continue to recover from Hurricane Melissa, where flash floods and landslides have displaced 100,000 residents and damaged thousands of homes.

Urgent Call for Preparedness

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stresses the urgency of coordinated disaster response and community awareness programs to safeguard lives. With extreme weather events becoming more recurrent, millions of households worldwide remain at risk of sudden inundation, emphasizing the need for resilient infrastructure and robust early warning systems.

The combined toll of flash floods in vulnerable Indian states and global regions is projected to affect over 15 million people and more than 3 million households, heightening concerns over humanitarian and economic ramifications.

This article highlights the scale of the flood risk and the potential human impact, encouraging heightened vigilance and preparedness across affected areas.