A striking image from ISRO's INSAT-3DS weather satellite shows thick cloud cover over eastern and southern India, while the western and northwestern regions stay almost completely clear.

The thermal infrared image, captured on September 25, shows a broad cloud mass stretching from the Bay of Bengal across eastern and northeastern India. It came from the satellite's thermal infrared channel at a wavelength of 10.83 micrometres. Cloud bands also cover Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Chhattisgarh.

In contrast, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana appear cloud-free. The brightest cloud tops indicate deep convection, though the image alone cannot identify the exact weather system at work.

The divide comes as the southwest monsoon withdraws; the India Meteorological Department confirmed on September 19 that the withdrawal had begun in parts of Rajasthan. Moist winds and low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal are keeping clouds active in the east.