Agencies
NEW DELHI, JUNE 25
With Monsoon setting over in many parts of the country, incessant rains have swollen many rivers and created flood-like situation in the states of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
Heavy rains across Jammu and Kashmir have brought back the fears of last year’s devastating floods, which caused extensive damage to life and property.
The Jhelum river, which caused havoc last September, is flowing above the danger mark prompting the authorities to sound high alert in Anantnag and Pulwama districts.
The level of the river at Sangam in Anantnag district was 26.80 ft, which is above the danger mark, while it was 19.80 ft at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar city at 8 am, also above the danger mark.
Jammu-Srinagar highway has been closed due to heavy rainfall.
Heavy rains lash parts of Gujarat, state government confirms 70 dead
Death toll due to heavy rainfall in Gujarat today rose to 38, including 27 in worst-hit Amreli district, following which Chief Minister Anandiben Patel conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas.
According to the state government, 70 people are confirmed dead, five persons are missing and around 23 houses are damaged. Till now, three NDRF teams have been pressed into service.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced cash assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the injured & family members of those who succumbed to the nature’s fury.
“Death toll due to heavy rains has risen to 38. The deaths were reported from Amreli (27), Rajkot (4), Bhavnagar (3), Surat (2) and one each from Bharuch and Valsad districts,” State Relief Commissioner DN Pandey said.
On the issue of providing compensation to the affected people, he said financial aid will be given as per norms.
“Financial aid or help is being given to people in affected areas like whose houses have been damaged, or in the cases of casualties or other injuries. Aid will be given as per norms of NDRF (National Disaster Relief Fund),” he said.
“Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has been conducting aerial survey and final decision on providing further help or financial aid will be taken after a meeting with her,” Pandey said.
He said the situation has improved. However, there are some areas which have been facing the problem of power failure and the state government has given directions to the energy department to rectify it, he said.
Gujarat’s Amreli district is the worst affected as 36 people died in the flood fury on Wednesday.
Yesterday’s depression over Gujarat region has moved northeastwards and weakened into a low pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining south Uttar Pradesh as of today morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that that isolated heavy rain fall is forecast for next 24 hours at many places in Gujarat, Konkan, Goa, Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
Heavy rainfall continues to lash Karnataka
Bengaluru: Heavy rainfall is likely to lash south and interior Karnataka as the southwest monsoon is active over the region, officials from the meteorological department said on Thursday.
Rain and thundershowers would also occur at many places in coastal Karnataka and at isolated places in north Karnataka.
Heavy rains predicted in Himachal
The southwest monsoon has made landfall in Himachal Pradesh.
The MeT department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains across the state between June 24 to June 26.
Heavy rainfall lash parts of Rajasthan
Under pre-monsoon pressure, moderate to heavy rainfalls lashed parts of Rajasthan yesterday with the MeT department predicting that monsoon might cover the entire state today.
According to a MeT department report, south-west monsoon on Wednesday entered in some parts of eastern Rajasthan causing light to heavy rains in Jaipur, Srigangangar, Ajmer, Udaipur districts.
Moderate to heavy rains lash UP
Moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers occurred at several places in eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours.
According to the MeT department here, chief amount of rainfall recorded in cm was Badaun 10, Kakardarighat 9, Bhinga and Budhana 7 each, Gaighat, Mankapur, Bansi,
Kakrahi and Muzaffarnagar 6 each and Ballia, Balrampur, Ghosi, Bijnore, Dhampur, Nagina and Moradabad 5 each.
Maharashtra receives 80% of month’s rainfall at onset
With bountiful rains, monsoon has set in satisfactorily in Maharashtra with the state receiving 80 percent rainfall of the month at the very beginning of the season.
An official at agriculture department said the onset of monsoon has brought cheer amid predictions that it was going to be inadequate this year.
Rains lash few parts of Punjab, Haryana
Rains on Wednesday lashed few parts of Punjab and Haryana, with maximum temperatures remaining far below normal level in most parts of both the states.
Bhiwani received rainfall of 32.2 mm while its maximum was 34 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Amritsar witnessed showers at 0.6 mm and it recorded its maximum at 30.8 degrees Celsius which was eight degrees below normal.
Flood situation in Assam improves
The flood situation in Assam has shown signs of improvement though nearly 22,000 people are still suffering due to the waters in over 25 villages across the state.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said in its daily flood report that more than 21,700 people were affected as of now in 29 villages across Barpeta, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Lakhimpur and Chirang districts.
