The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a red alert in the states of Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, warning them of "very heavy rain" on July 16 and 17. IMD added that monsoon had covered the entire country this week. Earlier, heavy rainfall had led to floods in Madhya Pradesh and Assam.