Ranchi: Residents across the state have been advised to remain cautious, with the Ranchi Met office forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next few days and issuing orange and yellow alerts for several districts.Baburaj PP, head of the Ranchi Met office, said a well-marked low-pressure area persisted over Gangetic West Bengal, adjoining north coastal Odisha and the northwest Bay of Bengal at 8:30 am on Monday.Under its influence, Jharkhand is likely to experience overcast and rainy conditions, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.An IMD bulletin issued on Monday said that very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the northwestern districts of Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Gumla, Khunti, Latehar and Lohardaga, and the southwestern districts of Simdega and West Singhbhum till Tuesday morning. An orange alert has been issued for these areas.A yellow alert for heavy rainfall has been issued for isolated places in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, as well as Hazaribag, Koderma, Ramgarh, Giridih, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ranchi.“Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph may also occur at isolated places across the state,” Baburaj said.For Tuesday and Wednesday, the Met office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum. A yellow alert for isolated heavy rainfall has been issued for Chatra, Ranchi, Khunti and Seraikela-Kharsawan, along with parts of adjoining central and western Jharkhand.During the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms occurred at most places in the state, while isolated areas received heavy to very heavy rain. Mahudawar in Latehar recorded the highest rainfall of 138 mm.Gumla registered the highest temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius, while Latehar recorded the lowest temperature of 20.7°C.
