53 deaths so far in three states, Assam faces wrath of floods

Rain-related incidents haveclaimed over 50 lives in three flood-hit states since theonset of monsoon with the deluge situation worsening in Assamtoday. On a day IMD predicted "good rainfall" for north and eastIndia for the next one week and "subdued" over central andwestern parts, the national capital witnessed overcastconditions with 24.7 mm of precipitation. The mercury settled within comfortable levels but highrelative humidity - 70-95 per cent - continued to prevail.

At least 34 people have lost their lives and severalhouses damaged so far in rain-related incidents in MadhyaPradesh during this year's monsoon. Jabalpur has seen seven rain-related deaths, followed bysix in Panna and five in Bhopal. Besides, three persons diedin Vidisha, two in Sagar and one each in Raisen, Rewa, Mandla,Tikamgarh, Seoni, Damoh, Shajapur, Sehore, Agar, Chhindwaraand Ashoknagar, a state government spokesman said.

 In Assam, with two flood-related deaths, the situationworsened as the number of affected people went up to nearly1.75 lakhs in six districts. As of today, over 1.74 lakh people are reeling under floodin 244 villages across Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Morigaon, Jorhat,Dhemaji and Biswanath districts. The number was 1.21 lakhpeople in 163 villages in the six districts till yesterday.

In Maharashtra, at least 17 people have lost their livesin floods with four each in Chandrapur and Nandurbar districtsso far this monsoon, a state government official said. With heavy rains predicted at one or two places inUttarakhand's Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun,Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Nainital and Champawatdistricts, a state government advisory has asked districtmagistrates to be vigilant and take necessary precautions.

In Uttar Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rain occured atisolated places including Hamirpur (15 cm), Dudhi (12 cm) andBaberu (9 cm). Light to moderate rain occurred in parts of Rajasthanwhere Shahpura in Jaipur and Baswa in Dausa recorded 5 cmrainfall each followed by Pilani (Jhunjhunu), Pahari(Bharatpur), Rajakhera (Dholpur) at 4 cm till this morningsince yesterday. Rains lashed many places in Haryana and Punjab whereChandigarh received 0.2 mm of rainfall. Ambala received 2.7 mmof rain whereas Punjab's Ludhiana and Patiala were lashed by16 mm and 22 mm precipitation respectively.

In Bihar, the weather remained hot and humid during theday but the MeT department has forecast intermittent to heavyrainfall for tomorrow. In West Bengal, Kolkata received of 20.7 mm rainfall whileBurdwan recorded highest rainfall of 69 mm till evening. ssam still reels under floods; 53 deaths so far in 3 states New Delhi.