Madhya Pradesh, Assam reel under floods; toll mounts to 17

There was no let up in flood misery in Madhya Pradesh and Assam with the death toll climbing to 17 today while heavy rains lashed parts of Rajasthan as the Northern Limit of Monsoon crossed Jodhpur.

While monsoon continued to be active over Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, north interior Karnataka and Kerala, rains eluded the national capital where it was a sultry day with maximum temperature settling at 36.7 degrees Celsius.

Seven persons died due to floods in different parts of Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours. Yesterday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had confirmed eight deaths in incidents related to heavy downpour in past couple of days.

IMD Bhopal Director Anupam Kashyapi told PTI heavy to very heavy rains are likely to lash Indore, Ujjain and Hoshangabad divisions, besides some parts of the state capital tomorrow. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chouhan and assured him of all help in rescue and relief operations.

In Assam, Brahmaputra waters have submerged 60 per cent of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located in Morigaon district and damaged around 50 per cent infrastructure of the world’s densest habitat of the Great Indian one-horn rhinoceros.

Two persons were washed away in Assam yesterday. Over 1.35 lakh people have been affected in Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Morigaon, Barpeta and Jorhat districts. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the flood situation.

In Odisha, heavy rainfall is likely at some places due to a low pressure area formed over Jharkhand and adjoining areas North Odisha. Strong gusty surface wind from southwesterly direction with speed 45-55 KMPH and reaching up to 60 KMPH would prevail along and off Odisha Coast, the MeT office in the state said.

It asked fishermen not to venture into sea in view of rough weather condition. In Rajasthan, at least three places received rains in excess of 10 cms in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am today.  Maximum rainfall was recorded at Jhalawar (23 cms) followed by Bakani (15 cms) and Jhalarapatan (10 cms).

Heavy rains drenched parts Himachal Pradesh and more rainfall is predicted in the coming week. Jubbar Hatti received 21 mm of rains and Dharamsala 18 mm since yesterday.

However, in Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh, there has been no significant rainfall, leading to a rise in mercury level during the past few days. Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in the two states recording a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, up two notches against normal.

Day temperatures in West Bengal remained below 35 degree Celsius today with light to moderate rainfall in many parts of the state. Kolkata recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius with cloudy sky and rainfall of 8.9 mm.