Given the ongoing monsoon season, several parts of India continued to receive heavy widespread rainfall Saturday with multiple states reporting casualties due to landslides and flood-like situations. State authorities are bracing for more rain in the coming days as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and associated weather departments sounded alerts.
Since the beginning of this monsoon season on June 1, India has received nine per cent more rainfall than normal. Till July 16, the country received 331.9 mm of rain; while the normal rainfall is about 304.2 mm for this period.
Here’s a round-up of weather updates from across the country:
Red Alert in 5 Kerala districts
The IMD issued a red alert for five northern districts of Kerala and orange alert for several others after incessant heavy rainfall battered the state, causing inundation, traffic snarls and property damage.
The regions under red alert are Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, where the agency has predicted “extremely heavy rainfall.”
Districts including Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad were placed under an ‘orange alert’ “heavy rainfall” warnings.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued precautionary guidelines for emergencies. In the northernmost district of Kasaragod, the district administration has advised strict safety measures in schools. Kozhikode district authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation and are prepared to evacuate people living in high-altitude areas and those near water bodies to safer locations if necessary.
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Both Wayanad and Kozhikode experienced intense overnight rainfall on Friday. Kozhikode district alone has reported a significant crop loss worth Rs 44 crore caused by rainfall since May, as per the State Agriculture Department.
A ‘red alert’ indicates “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an ‘orange alert’ signifies “very heavy rainfall” between 11 cm and 20 cm.
Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region under red alert
The MeT department on Saturday issued a “red alert” for heavy rainfall in Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar districts in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region for Sunday.
The department also issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri districts in the Garhwal region. Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts in Kumaon are also under orange alert.
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The district administrations were asked to take necessary precautions, including controlling the movement of people, quick on-the-spot action and prompt exchange of information in case of an emergency. Disaster management departments have been instructed to ensure that road clearing operations are launched immediately in case of any blockage.
West Bengal on watch
The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall across West Bengal in the coming week owing to a low pressure area developing in North Bay of Bengal.
The department has forecast heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan districts of north Bengal – Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar – till July 22.
South Bengal districts, including South 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur, are expected to be hit by increased rainfall from July 23 onward.
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Kolkata recorded 32.6 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, and the weather department has predicted thunderstorms with gusty winds.
Flood-like situation in parts of Rajasthan
Flood-like conditions emerged in Rajasthan cities including Ajmer, Bundi, Pushkar, and Pali following heavy downpours over the past 24 hours.
Several people were swept away by the strong water flow in Ajmer’s Dargah area, which prompted locals to intervene and rescue them. The city’s Ana Sagar lake is overflowing, with locals using sandbags to try to control the flow. A dilapidated house collapsed in Lakhan Kotdi on Saturday morning.
On the other hand, the Banas River near Golera village in Tonk overflowed, stranding 17 people who were later rescued.
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According to the MeT department, Rajasthan has received 126 per cent more rainfall than normal since June 1. MeT officials, however, predicted a decline in rainfall activity from Sunday, with another spell in eastern Rajasthan likely by July 27-28.
Uttar Pradesh: 18 deaths in 24 hours
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 18 deaths were reported over a 24-hour period due to rain-related incidents. Of these 18 deaths, eight were due to drowning, while two were a result of snakebite.
Chitrakoot district was the worst hit with six deaths. One each died in Ghazipur, Lalitpur and Gonda.
Landslides in Arunachal
Several parts of the Arunachal Pradesh have been severely affected by the monsoon rainfall since May. Surface communication at various places in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang district have been snapped by heavy rainfall.
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Landslides in Siji, Yate and near Garu village due to incessant downpour have cut the the Aalo-Likabali road, which serves as a lifeline for several districts including West Siang, Leparada, Shi-Yomi, and Upper Subansiri.
Officials have urged the public to avoid travelling during night hours in view of landslides. Landslides and floods triggered by rains have claimed at least 14 lives and affected 36,751 people across 26 districts.
With PTI inputs
