Rains batter north, flood-like situation in Rajasthan

The spell of heavy rains continued in northern states today with Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh reporting five fresh rain-related deaths, and Rajasthan facing a flood-like situation.

The weatherman has warned of “very heavy” rains in Assam, which is battling floods, Meghalaya and heavy rains in West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and coastal Karnataka.

Heavy rains lashed the national capital, bringing down the maximum temperature, which was recorded at 32.9 degrees Celsius.

The Safdarjung observatory recorded 21 mm of rains. The minimum temperature in the city settled at 25 degrees Celsius, while humidity shot up to 100 per cent.

Incessant rains over the past two days in eastern Rajasthan have led to a flood-like situation in the region and severed road connectivity to many areas.

Heavy rains pounded Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli districts inundating several areas, from where hundreds of people have been shifted to shelters.

Rajasthan has received excess rainfall so far this season.  Against a normal rainfall of 149.85 mm from June 1 to July 17, the state gauged 222.99 mm of precipitation. Despite this, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Sirohi have had deficit rains while Barmer, Jalore and Sri Ganganagar have had scanty rainfall so far.

Of the 822 dams in Rajasthan, 36 were fully filled and 391 were partially filled, while 395 are empty, according to water resources department.

Three persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, which had yesterday received a record 190 mm of rains.

Heavy to very heavy rains hit Badaun that gauged 20 cm of rains, Kasganj 19, Najibabad 18, Nagina 16, Chhatta 14, Powayan 13, Kiroli 12 cm each of rainfall.

Uttarakhand reported two more rain-related deaths though there were signs of a let-up in monsoon activity in most parts of the state, including Dehradun.

A person was killed in Uttarkashi when the car he was driving fell into a swollen Bhagirathi river after being hit by a boulder rolling down a hillside due to landslip. A child was swept away by flood waters in Badhedi Rajputana village of Haridwar district.

The MeT department has forecast a decrease in rainfall activity from today onwards. ”There is no heavy rain warning for Uttarakhand for the next 3-4 days,” it said.

The current spell of heavy rains in Uttarakhand has also affected the Chardham yatra with the highways leading to the Himalayan shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath still blocked.