Summary

Full report

It has been raining heavily in many areas of the country for the last three days. Landslides have occurred in the hilly areas and flood-like situation has arisen in the plains. During the last 24 hours, more than two dozen people have died in different incidents across the country. Nearly five decades old bridge has been washed away in the spate of Beas river in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

After 41 years, Delhi has received maximum rainfall in a single day in July. Many trains have been affected due to rain. Where and how much rain did it rain across the country? What has been its effect? After all, what is the reason for the Heavy rain? What is the government doing to deal with the situation? How will the weather be for the next seven days? Let’s know…

Where and how much rain did it rain across the country?

According to the India Meteorological Department, the country received two per cent excess rainfall on Sunday (July 9). Northwest India has received 59 per cent excess rainfall, while central India has recorded four per cent excess rainfall. Heavy Rains lashed several other places in Haryana and Punjab between Saturday and Sunday, leading to floods. Punjab recorded 57.5 mm of rain against the normal of 4.6 mm, an excess of 1,151 per cent for the day. Heavy rains have occurred in various districts of Punjab including Patiala, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib. Chandigarh received a record 32 cm of rain.

Heavy rains lashed most districts of Haryana, including Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal. Ambala has recorded 4.1 cm of rain. Himachal Pradesh recorded 103.8 mm of rainfall, which is 1,193 per cent more, than the normal eight mm between Saturday and Sunday morning. Shimla recorded 5.5 cm of rain between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm on Sunday; Kangra 5.9 cm; Chamba 5.6 cm. Till 8.30 am on Sunday, 10 cm of rain was recorded in Bhuntar and 8 cm in Mandi.

Delhi received 153 mm of rain in 24 hours till 8 am on Sunday. This is the highest since 169.9 mm of rainfall on July 25, 1982, 41 years ago.

What has been its effect?

Landslides have reduced roads to rubble in the hilly states. Due to cloudburst in Mandi and Kullu in Himachal late on Saturday night, there was a sudden rise in water in Beas river, in which three bridges, one ATM and four shops were washed away. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that around 17 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state in the last two days.

Cars washed away in sudden flood

Several vehicles were washed away in Kullu-Manali due to sudden flood in the Beas river following a cloudburst. Five National Highways including Manali-Leh, Chandigarh-Manali, 736 roads have been closed due to landslides. The movement of trains has been stopped due to debris falling on the heritage Kalka-Shimla track.

The movement of other trains including Vande Bharat coming from Ambala to Una-Amb-Daulatpur Chowk came to a standstill due to water-logging on the tracks in many areas of Punjab. Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra has been suspended for two days. Gulmohar Housing Society in Zirakpur, Mohali was flooded due to heavy rains. Cars drowned. Due to water filling up to the first floor, people had to take the help of a boat to evacuate.

50 people stranded on the banks of Satluj at Khanna in Ludhiana have been rescued. The Ropar-Nangal rail track has been uprooted. NDRF has also been deployed in Bathinda. Six inches of water has rained in Hanumangarh of Rajasthan. On the other hand, there are flood-like situations in Jhunjhunu and Sikar.

Yamuna near red mark in Delhi, flood alert

Yamuna river water in Delhi has reached near the danger mark. At 9 pm on Sunday night, the water at the old railway bridge was at a height of 203.62 metres, which was 1.71 meters below the red mark. Due to continuous release of water from Hathinikund barrage in Yamunanagar, the Delhi government has issued a flood alert. So far more than one lakh cusecs of water has been released.

In Delhi, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Road, BJP MP Pravesh Verma at Janpath Road, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi at Raisina Road, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi’s house at Mathura Road were flooded.

In Uttarakhand, more than 175 roads have been closed due to debris from landslides. The Gangotri-Yamunotri highway will remain closed from eight in the night to five in the morning.

Schools closed in many states

Schools had to be closed at many places due to heavy rains. Schools remained closed on Monday in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Hapur and Faridabad. In Ludhiana too, it was announced to close schools due to rain. On the other hand, schools in Ghaziabad will remain closed till July 10-16 due to rain and Kanwar Yatra.

Situation bad in Jammu and Kashmir

Amarnath Yatra, which was postponed due to two days of rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, was restored on the third day on Sunday from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes. The driver and the conductor were killed when a passenger bus came under the grip of a landslide in Doda due to heavy rains. Tawi in Udhampur and Jhelum river in South Kashmir-Srinagar are above the danger mark. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Kathua, Samba and advised not to go near the river-drain.

What is the reason for heavy rain?

According to IMD Director General M Mohapatra, the heavy rains were caused by the interaction between the Western Disturbance and Monsoon. Due to this contact, heavy to very heavy rainfall is occurring over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North Punjab and Haryana, Uttarakhand. As it was predicted that there would be good rains in July, now the rain deficit is complete. In the last nine days, there has been 24 per cent more rainfall as compared to the July period. From tomorrow, the rains will gradually reduce over these states.

The recent rains caused havoc in Himachal. On this, M Rajeevan, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, ‘The floods in Himachal Pradesh remind us of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods. An active Monsoon with strong low-level easterly winds is bringing considerable amount of moisture.

What is the government doing to deal with the situation?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inquired about the deteriorating situation due to excessive rains in some parts of the country. He has spoken to senior ministers, officials about this. The PMO said officials have informed the prime minister about the deteriorating situation due to heavy rains. He was informed that teams of local administration, NDRF and SDRF are working to ensure the well-being of the affected people.

Home Minister is keeping an eye on the situation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in touch with the Lieutenant Governors of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir to monitor the situation. He has also contacted the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to assess the situations.

How will be the weather ahead?

Meanwhile, the IMD has reported that heavy rainfall occurred over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining areas of North Punjab and Haryana which will continue today. However, the department says that after this there can be a considerable reduction. Extremely heavy rainfall would occur over Northeast India and adjoining East India during next three days. According to the Meteorological Department, there will be light to moderate rain in West India. At the same time, heavy rain is expected at some places. Light to moderate rain and thundershowers very likely at isolated places over central India during next five days. Moving to South India, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala are likely to receive light to moderate rains during the next five days.

Sawan first somwar 2023 – Full news