India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• It is the country's national meteorological service and the main government authority on all meteorology-related issues. 

• This agency operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

• It was established in 1875 after the two  devastating cyclones in Kolkata and the Andhra coast in 1864.

• Its main objectives are to warn against severe natural phenomena like tropical cyclones,  dust storms, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc., 

Cloudbursts

• A cloudburst is when a lot of rain falls very quickly, often with hail and thunder.

• According to IMD, over 100mm of rain falls in just an hour, covering about 20-30 square km qualifies to be termed cloudburst.

• In India, they are common during the monsoon, when clouds move northward from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea, bringing heavy rain, especially near the Himalayas.

• A cloudburst typically happens when moist air rises over hills, creating towering clouds called "cumulonimbus" clouds.