New Delhi, May 27 -- Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka are on red alert today as pre-monsoon showers lash several regions of Southern India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned against extremely heavy rainfall in these regions and has issued an orange alert for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

IMD in its latest weather bulletin states, "Fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph with heavy rainfall at a few places with very heavy & extremely rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kerala & Mahe on 27th May and heavy to very heavy rainfall thereafter during 28th May-01st June."

The weather agency...