Tag: Monsoon Rains

  • Village chief who alerted others falls victim to Himachal landslide along with kin

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: When extremely heavy rains lashed Kashan in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, village chief Khem Singh sent a message on a WhatsApp group asking people to remain alert.

    But the ‘pradhan’ himself and seven other family members were killed in a landslide.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this on Monday after visiting flash flood and landslide-hit areas in Mandi district and announced that Singh’s house would be reconstructed by the administration.

    Twenty-two people were killed, twelve injured and five feared dead as they went missing in 36 incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    Thakur also announced that the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to next of kin of the deceased who lost their lives in the landslides and flash floods.

    The chief minister said their lives could not be saved although rescue teams had left for the village without wasting any time after getting information about the landslide.

    However, it took several hours to reach there as all the roads leading to the village were badly damaged, he said.

    Thakur met Singh’s relatives during his visit to Kashan village in and expressed his condolences.

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    The CM said he has directed the deputy commissioners of the districts affected by rains to swiftly act to restore damaged roads, power and water supply.

    Thakur said the Centre had already been apprised about the situation created by rains and a central team would visit the state to assess the loss as per norms.

    Meanwhile Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written a letter to Thakur, expressing his sadness over the loss of lives and damage to property owing to heavy rains in the state, his office said.

    “I offer my condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to all those affected by this devastation,” he wrote.

    “I pray for them. I appreciate that the state government and other agencies are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by these calamitous conditions. As a token of our solidarity with the people of Himachal Pradesh, our friends and neighbours, the Dalai Lama Trust is making a donation to relief and rescue efforts,” the letter said.

    The CM’s home district Mandi was the worst hit where 13 people died and five were feared dead in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.

    In Mandi, six members of a family went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road on Saturday.

    While the body of a girl was recovered at some distance away from her house, five members of her family are feared dead as they were washed away after flash flood.

    Besides several roads, power transformers and water supply pipes were also damaged.

    SHIMLA: When extremely heavy rains lashed Kashan in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, village chief Khem Singh sent a message on a WhatsApp group asking people to remain alert.

    But the ‘pradhan’ himself and seven other family members were killed in a landslide.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this on Monday after visiting flash flood and landslide-hit areas in Mandi district and announced that Singh’s house would be reconstructed by the administration.

    Twenty-two people were killed, twelve injured and five feared dead as they went missing in 36 incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    Thakur also announced that the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to next of kin of the deceased who lost their lives in the landslides and flash floods.

    The chief minister said their lives could not be saved although rescue teams had left for the village without wasting any time after getting information about the landslide.

    However, it took several hours to reach there as all the roads leading to the village were badly damaged, he said.

    Thakur met Singh’s relatives during his visit to Kashan village in and expressed his condolences.

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    The CM said he has directed the deputy commissioners of the districts affected by rains to swiftly act to restore damaged roads, power and water supply.

    Thakur said the Centre had already been apprised about the situation created by rains and a central team would visit the state to assess the loss as per norms.

    Meanwhile Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written a letter to Thakur, expressing his sadness over the loss of lives and damage to property owing to heavy rains in the state, his office said.

    “I offer my condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to all those affected by this devastation,” he wrote.

    “I pray for them. I appreciate that the state government and other agencies are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by these calamitous conditions. As a token of our solidarity with the people of Himachal Pradesh, our friends and neighbours, the Dalai Lama Trust is making a donation to relief and rescue efforts,” the letter said.

    The CM’s home district Mandi was the worst hit where 13 people died and five were feared dead in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.

    In Mandi, six members of a family went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road on Saturday.

    While the body of a girl was recovered at some distance away from her house, five members of her family are feared dead as they were washed away after flash flood.

    Besides several roads, power transformers and water supply pipes were also damaged.

  • Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    By Online Desk

    At least 50 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha over the last three days in flash floods and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rains, according to news agency Reuters.

    22 people were killed and 12 injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    The maximum damage was reported from Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts.

    Five people who went missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh remained untraceable on Sunday, State Disaster Management Department director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta told PTI.

    The five who went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road in Mandi are still untraceable, he added.

    Several families fled their homes located between Baghi and Old Katola after a cloudburst in the area on Saturday and took shelter at safer places.

    Mokhta said the Shimla-Chandigarh highway, which was blocked on Saturday evening following a landslide at Sonu Bangla between Shoghi and Tara Devi, has been cleared for vehicular movement.

    However, several roads, especially in Mandi, are still closed for traffic and work is on clear them, he added.

    Principal secretary, Revenue, Onkar Sharma said Rs 232.31 crore has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund to the affected districts.

    Two major rivers in Odisha breach danger mark

    In the state of Odisha, authorities in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts have launched a massive evacuation drive in low-lying areas, officials said Sunday, as water in Subarnarekha and Baitarani – the two major rivers flowing through the region  breached the danger mark at many places.

    As many as 58 rescue teams comprising personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service were deployed in Balasore and Mayurbahnj districts, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena said, adding similar arrangements were also being made in adjoining districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur.

    The water level in all the rivers located in north Odisha are in spate due to heavy rains caused by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, and subsequent flood water release from Jharkhand.

    According to Jena, nearly 6 lakh cusecs of water were discharged by Jharkhand from Galudih barrage on the Subarnarekha river system, following a heavy downpour.

    Most rivers flowing through the northern region of Odisha into the Bay of Bengal originate in neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Four blocks in coastal Balasore district –Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta and Jaleswar –were identified as most vulnerable to the latest flooding.

    On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik delegated powers of a special relief commissioner to the collector of Balasore district so that the local administration could be more effective.

    A helicopter was also placed at his disposal to deal with any emergency.

    Odisha is already reeling under the impact of moderate floods in the Mahanadi river system following incessant rainfall, which has affected above 7 lakh people.

    Nearly 5 lakh are still marooned in 763 villages, according to government estimates.

    Rains and flood-related incidents have so far claimed six lives.

    Two bodies were recovered in Kuchinda area of Sambalpur district on Saturday, while four people, including two minor girls, were killed in a wall collapse on Friday night.

    ALSO READ | Odisha floods: It has been raining misery for Kandhamal, Kalahandi

    Jharkhand hit by torrential rains

     
    Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, three persons lost their lives amid heavy rain and strong winds that lashed several districts of the state, inundating low-lying areas and uprooting trees and electricity poles, officials said.

    A woman died when a mud wall of her house collapsed in West Singhbhum district, as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought torrential rainfall in various parts of the state on Saturday, they said.

    Two persons drowned in Ramgarh district and two more went missing when their vehicles fell into the swollen Nalkari river, and were swept away by the strong current, the officials said.

    Flood-like situation on Vaishno Devi yatra track

    In Jammu, the yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir was temporarily suspended on Friday evening following heavy rain, officials said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Anshul Garg said the situation was under control and there was no report of any casualty or damage.

    Several videos shared on social media show flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

    An official said heavy rains lashed Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the revered shrine, for several hours in the evening, prompting the authorities to suspend the yatra as a precautionary measure till 5 am on Saturday.

    (With inputs from PTI)

    At least 50 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha over the last three days in flash floods and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rains, according to news agency Reuters.

    22 people were killed and 12 injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    The maximum damage was reported from Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts.

    Five people who went missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh remained untraceable on Sunday, State Disaster Management Department director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta told PTI.

    The five who went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road in Mandi are still untraceable, he added.

    Several families fled their homes located between Baghi and Old Katola after a cloudburst in the area on Saturday and took shelter at safer places.

    Mokhta said the Shimla-Chandigarh highway, which was blocked on Saturday evening following a landslide at Sonu Bangla between Shoghi and Tara Devi, has been cleared for vehicular movement.

    However, several roads, especially in Mandi, are still closed for traffic and work is on clear them, he added.

    Principal secretary, Revenue, Onkar Sharma said Rs 232.31 crore has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund to the affected districts.

    Two major rivers in Odisha breach danger mark

    In the state of Odisha, authorities in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts have launched a massive evacuation drive in low-lying areas, officials said Sunday, as water in Subarnarekha and Baitarani – the two major rivers flowing through the region  breached the danger mark at many places.

    As many as 58 rescue teams comprising personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service were deployed in Balasore and Mayurbahnj districts, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena said, adding similar arrangements were also being made in adjoining districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur.

    The water level in all the rivers located in north Odisha are in spate due to heavy rains caused by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, and subsequent flood water release from Jharkhand.

    According to Jena, nearly 6 lakh cusecs of water were discharged by Jharkhand from Galudih barrage on the Subarnarekha river system, following a heavy downpour.

    Most rivers flowing through the northern region of Odisha into the Bay of Bengal originate in neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Four blocks in coastal Balasore district –Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta and Jaleswar –were identified as most vulnerable to the latest flooding.

    On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik delegated powers of a special relief commissioner to the collector of Balasore district so that the local administration could be more effective.

    A helicopter was also placed at his disposal to deal with any emergency.

    Odisha is already reeling under the impact of moderate floods in the Mahanadi river system following incessant rainfall, which has affected above 7 lakh people.

    Nearly 5 lakh are still marooned in 763 villages, according to government estimates.

    Rains and flood-related incidents have so far claimed six lives.

    Two bodies were recovered in Kuchinda area of Sambalpur district on Saturday, while four people, including two minor girls, were killed in a wall collapse on Friday night.

    ALSO READ | Odisha floods: It has been raining misery for Kandhamal, Kalahandi

    Jharkhand hit by torrential rains

     
    Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, three persons lost their lives amid heavy rain and strong winds that lashed several districts of the state, inundating low-lying areas and uprooting trees and electricity poles, officials said.

    A woman died when a mud wall of her house collapsed in West Singhbhum district, as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought torrential rainfall in various parts of the state on Saturday, they said.

    Two persons drowned in Ramgarh district and two more went missing when their vehicles fell into the swollen Nalkari river, and were swept away by the strong current, the officials said.

    Flood-like situation on Vaishno Devi yatra track

    In Jammu, the yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir was temporarily suspended on Friday evening following heavy rain, officials said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Anshul Garg said the situation was under control and there was no report of any casualty or damage.

    Several videos shared on social media show flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

    An official said heavy rains lashed Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the revered shrine, for several hours in the evening, prompting the authorities to suspend the yatra as a precautionary measure till 5 am on Saturday.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Heavy showers in Kerala, Telangana; Home Guards help tribal woman deliver baby in rain-hit Chhattisgarh

    By PTI

    A team of Home Guard jawans helped a tribal woman deliver a baby on the banks of a swollen river in Chhattisgarh’s rain-hit Bijapur district on Sunday, police said.

    The Home Guard personnel were involved in rescue work in the rain-affected areas of the district when they were alerted about a woman who had to be shifted to a sub-health centre for delivery in the morning, a senior official said.

    Sarita Gondi started experiencing labour pains even as the jawans were shifting her to a rescue boat to take her across a river near Jhorgaya village in Gangaloor tehsil of the district, he said.

    The district administration had received a call from the family of the woman, who was in the advanced stages of pregnancy, seeking help to cross a river that flows along the village to reach a sub-health centre, he said.

    The river was in spate due to the heavy rains that lashed the area for the last few days, the official said.

    The administration alerted the Home Guard office in Bijapur, following which the rescue team swung into action, he said.

    The woman’s family had brought her to the river bank on an indigenous bamboo stretcher.

    On reaching the spot, the rescue team attempted to move her to a boat, when she went into labour, the official said.

    The woman gave birth on the stretcher itself, and both the newborn and the mother were taken across the river on a rescue boat and admitted to the sub-health centre in Reddy village, he said.

    The woman and newborn were said to be fine, the official added.

    A flood-like situation was witnessed in the interiors of Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur districts due to incessant downpours in the last few days and the backwater of Godavari river that flows along the border of Chhattisgarh and Telangana, officials said.

    The Bastar division comprises seven districts – Bastar, Kanker, Kondgaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma.

    State Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma on Saturday visited Bijapur and Sukma districts to take stock of the situation emerging out of the incessant rains.

    District officials have been instructed to keep the rescue teams on alert to deal with emergencies, while officials of the revenue, district panchayat, janpad panchayat and forest departments have been asked to provide relief to the affected people, they said.

    Heavy rains continue in Kerala, water in some dams reach red alert levels

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Kerala, heavy rains continue to lash various parts of the state. The water levels in several dams, including the Mullaperiyar and Idukki, in the state are reaching their respective storage capacities and some even reached red alert status on Sunday.

    According to figures provided by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), water in six dams — of which four are in Idukki — under the control of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are at red alert levels and in one at orange alert level.

    The dams where water reached red alert levels at 11 am were — Ponmudi, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts of the state.

    An Orange alert was announced in Poringalkuthu dam in Thrissur, KSDMA said.

    Later in the evening, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, referring to weather reports and KSDMA data, said an orange alert has also been announced in Meenkara irrigation dam in Palakkad.

    Besides that, blue alerts have been announced in Neyyar and Mangalam irrigation dams in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, respectively, the Chief Minister said in a release.

    It also said the water level in Mullaperiyar dam has reached 135.75 feet and once it reaches 136.60 due to the rains, Tamil Nadu will release water from its side through the spillway and therefore, nearby residents should be vigilant and take precautions.

    The water levels in the Mullaperiyar dam were holding steady at 135.7 feet at 12 pm due to reduction in rainfall in the area during the preceding hours, an official from the control room set up in Idukki district had said earlier in the day.

    The Chief Minister, in the release, also said water was being released from Malankara, Siruvani, Kuttiyadi, Kallada, Karapuzha, Kanjirappuzha, Peechi, Maniyar, Bhoothathankettu, Moolathara and Pazhassi dams in the state and people nearby these dams should take precautions.

    He also said, in the release, that according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a yellow alert has been declared in Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for the day and for tomorrow in Idukki, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts.

    Vijayan asked people to be careful of wind hazards as strong winds are expected in the state and advised those living in low-lying areas, near river banks and hilly areas prone to landslides to be alert.

    He said, in the release, that 23 relief camps have been set up in various districts of the state and 1,485 people have been shifted there.

    Meanwhile, 23 people have died so far in rain-related incidents, 11 were injured, three are missing, 81 houses have been completely destroyed and 1,278 homes were partially damaged, the release said.

    Heavy rainfall in East Rajasthan, more rains expected in next 4-5 days: MeT dept

    JAIPUR: Heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in East Rajasthan while several places received light to moderate rain in 24 hours ending 8.

    30 am on Sunday, the weather office said.

    Srinagar in Ajmer recorded 7 cm rainfall, 6 cm each in Bhadra and Sujangarh, and 5 cm each in Tonk tehsil, Begun, Hindoli, Baswa, Ratangarh and Suratgarh.

    Various places recorded 1 cm to 4 cm rainfall during the 24 hours, it said.

    MeT department regional director Radheshyam Sharma said Baran, Kota, Bundi, Tonk, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts are likely to receive heavy rains with thunder at some places.

    He said in the next four to five days, East Rajasthan is very likely to get rain coupled with thunderstorm at most places and heavy rain in some places.

    On July 19, there is a strong possibility of very heavy rain at one or two places and heavy rain at some places in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer and Kota divisions, he added.

    Guv visits flood-hit areas in Telangana, interacts with local residents

    Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday visited flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and interacted with the residents at relief camps.

    The Governor, who visited flood relief camps, also distributed hygiene kits, medicines and other relief materials.

    Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted: “Distributed Hygiene Kits, Tarpaulins, Medicines and Food Packets to the public at flood relief camp in Ashwapuram Village #badrachalam District, organised by @IndianRedCross Society”.

    In a series of tweets, the Governor also said she visited flood-affected Pamulapalli village and interacted with the locals and assured necessary support in consultation with the district administration.

    The Governor further said she heard the grievances of the people at Battilagumpu village and assured them that it will be conveyed to the district administration for necessary assistance.

    Heavy rains (recently) and inflows led to a massive rise in water level in Godavari river (though it started declining on Saturday) at Bhadrachalam town in Telangana.

    Such massive water level and flooding was witnessed in 1986, some residents recalled.

    Several localities in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district continued to remain in water on Saturday.

    The state government has shifted several thousand people to relief camps in view of the flood in the district.

    A damaged road due to heavy monsoon rainfall, in Surat, on July 16, 2022. (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli damages NH-7

    Meanwhile, an ANI report said that due to the heavy rainfall in Chamoli district, the road at National Highway-07 has been extensively damaged.

    Traffic with caution has also been restored in two severely damaged locations of Km. 398+500 (Karanprayag) and Km. 419+900(Pursari) and the contractor is in the process of restoring the road in full width.

    Recent media reports have alleged that the government has engaged a blacklisted company for the execution of the prestigious Chardham Project.

    National Highways and Infrastructure Development (NHIDCL) hereby clarifies that no blacklisted contractor is engaged on any of its projects and the selection of contractors for its projects are made after a prescribed due diligent process.

    The companies engaged are executing a number of Central and State Government infrastructure projects

    The roads are being constructed on EPC mode in which the contractor is responsible for the restoration of defects for four years even after construction. NHIDCL is committed to building high-quality highway infrastructure in the country. 

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI)

    A team of Home Guard jawans helped a tribal woman deliver a baby on the banks of a swollen river in Chhattisgarh’s rain-hit Bijapur district on Sunday, police said.

    The Home Guard personnel were involved in rescue work in the rain-affected areas of the district when they were alerted about a woman who had to be shifted to a sub-health centre for delivery in the morning, a senior official said.

    Sarita Gondi started experiencing labour pains even as the jawans were shifting her to a rescue boat to take her across a river near Jhorgaya village in Gangaloor tehsil of the district, he said.

    The district administration had received a call from the family of the woman, who was in the advanced stages of pregnancy, seeking help to cross a river that flows along the village to reach a sub-health centre, he said.

    The river was in spate due to the heavy rains that lashed the area for the last few days, the official said.

    The administration alerted the Home Guard office in Bijapur, following which the rescue team swung into action, he said.

    The woman’s family had brought her to the river bank on an indigenous bamboo stretcher.

    On reaching the spot, the rescue team attempted to move her to a boat, when she went into labour, the official said.

    The woman gave birth on the stretcher itself, and both the newborn and the mother were taken across the river on a rescue boat and admitted to the sub-health centre in Reddy village, he said.

    The woman and newborn were said to be fine, the official added.

    A flood-like situation was witnessed in the interiors of Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur districts due to incessant downpours in the last few days and the backwater of Godavari river that flows along the border of Chhattisgarh and Telangana, officials said.

    The Bastar division comprises seven districts – Bastar, Kanker, Kondgaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma.

    State Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma on Saturday visited Bijapur and Sukma districts to take stock of the situation emerging out of the incessant rains.

    District officials have been instructed to keep the rescue teams on alert to deal with emergencies, while officials of the revenue, district panchayat, janpad panchayat and forest departments have been asked to provide relief to the affected people, they said.

    Heavy rains continue in Kerala, water in some dams reach red alert levels

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Kerala, heavy rains continue to lash various parts of the state. The water levels in several dams, including the Mullaperiyar and Idukki, in the state are reaching their respective storage capacities and some even reached red alert status on Sunday.

    According to figures provided by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), water in six dams — of which four are in Idukki — under the control of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are at red alert levels and in one at orange alert level.

    The dams where water reached red alert levels at 11 am were — Ponmudi, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts of the state.

    An Orange alert was announced in Poringalkuthu dam in Thrissur, KSDMA said.

    Later in the evening, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, referring to weather reports and KSDMA data, said an orange alert has also been announced in Meenkara irrigation dam in Palakkad.

    Besides that, blue alerts have been announced in Neyyar and Mangalam irrigation dams in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, respectively, the Chief Minister said in a release.

    It also said the water level in Mullaperiyar dam has reached 135.75 feet and once it reaches 136.60 due to the rains, Tamil Nadu will release water from its side through the spillway and therefore, nearby residents should be vigilant and take precautions.

    The water levels in the Mullaperiyar dam were holding steady at 135.7 feet at 12 pm due to reduction in rainfall in the area during the preceding hours, an official from the control room set up in Idukki district had said earlier in the day.

    The Chief Minister, in the release, also said water was being released from Malankara, Siruvani, Kuttiyadi, Kallada, Karapuzha, Kanjirappuzha, Peechi, Maniyar, Bhoothathankettu, Moolathara and Pazhassi dams in the state and people nearby these dams should take precautions.

    He also said, in the release, that according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a yellow alert has been declared in Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for the day and for tomorrow in Idukki, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts.

    Vijayan asked people to be careful of wind hazards as strong winds are expected in the state and advised those living in low-lying areas, near river banks and hilly areas prone to landslides to be alert.

    He said, in the release, that 23 relief camps have been set up in various districts of the state and 1,485 people have been shifted there.

    Meanwhile, 23 people have died so far in rain-related incidents, 11 were injured, three are missing, 81 houses have been completely destroyed and 1,278 homes were partially damaged, the release said.

    Heavy rainfall in East Rajasthan, more rains expected in next 4-5 days: MeT dept

    JAIPUR: Heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in East Rajasthan while several places received light to moderate rain in 24 hours ending 8.

    30 am on Sunday, the weather office said.

    Srinagar in Ajmer recorded 7 cm rainfall, 6 cm each in Bhadra and Sujangarh, and 5 cm each in Tonk tehsil, Begun, Hindoli, Baswa, Ratangarh and Suratgarh.

    Various places recorded 1 cm to 4 cm rainfall during the 24 hours, it said.

    MeT department regional director Radheshyam Sharma said Baran, Kota, Bundi, Tonk, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts are likely to receive heavy rains with thunder at some places.

    He said in the next four to five days, East Rajasthan is very likely to get rain coupled with thunderstorm at most places and heavy rain in some places.

    On July 19, there is a strong possibility of very heavy rain at one or two places and heavy rain at some places in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer and Kota divisions, he added.

    Guv visits flood-hit areas in Telangana, interacts with local residents

    Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday visited flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and interacted with the residents at relief camps.

    The Governor, who visited flood relief camps, also distributed hygiene kits, medicines and other relief materials.

    Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted: “Distributed Hygiene Kits, Tarpaulins, Medicines and Food Packets to the public at flood relief camp in Ashwapuram Village #badrachalam District, organised by @IndianRedCross Society”.

    In a series of tweets, the Governor also said she visited flood-affected Pamulapalli village and interacted with the locals and assured necessary support in consultation with the district administration.

    The Governor further said she heard the grievances of the people at Battilagumpu village and assured them that it will be conveyed to the district administration for necessary assistance.

    Heavy rains (recently) and inflows led to a massive rise in water level in Godavari river (though it started declining on Saturday) at Bhadrachalam town in Telangana.

    Such massive water level and flooding was witnessed in 1986, some residents recalled.

    Several localities in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district continued to remain in water on Saturday.

    The state government has shifted several thousand people to relief camps in view of the flood in the district.

    A damaged road due to heavy monsoon rainfall, in Surat, on July 16, 2022. (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli damages NH-7

    Meanwhile, an ANI report said that due to the heavy rainfall in Chamoli district, the road at National Highway-07 has been extensively damaged.

    Traffic with caution has also been restored in two severely damaged locations of Km. 398+500 (Karanprayag) and Km. 419+900(Pursari) and the contractor is in the process of restoring the road in full width.

    Recent media reports have alleged that the government has engaged a blacklisted company for the execution of the prestigious Chardham Project.

    National Highways and Infrastructure Development (NHIDCL) hereby clarifies that no blacklisted contractor is engaged on any of its projects and the selection of contractors for its projects are made after a prescribed due diligent process.

    The companies engaged are executing a number of Central and State Government infrastructure projects

    The roads are being constructed on EPC mode in which the contractor is responsible for the restoration of defects for four years even after construction. NHIDCL is committed to building high-quality highway infrastructure in the country. 

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI)

  • Maharashtra rains: Man dead, two kin injured in Vasai landslide

    By PTI

    PALGHAR: A man was killed and two of his family members were injured on Wednesday after a landslide in Vasai town of Maharashtra’s Palghar district following heavy rains, officials said.

    Search was on for another family member and efforts were on to find out if more persons were trapped in the debris, they said.

    Local fireman and a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.

    Following the landslide, a boulder from a hillock crashed on the house of Anil Singh (45) at Waghralpada in Rajavali area of Vasai around 6.30 am and he died, District Disaster Management Cell chief Vivekanand Kadam said.

    His wife Vandana Singh (40) and son Om Singh (12) got trapped in the debris.

    Some locals and firemen later pulled them out and they were admitted to a hospital for the treatment of their injuries, he said.

    VIEW PHOTOS | Monsoon rains cause havoc in different parts of the country

    The NDRF personnel also retrieved the body of Anil Singh from the debris at around 10.30 am, the official said.

    A search is still on for another family member Roshni Singh (16).

    Rescue personnel were also trying to find out if any other person was trapped in the debris, he said.

    The district, located about 100 km from the state capital Mumbai, has been witnessing very heavy rains since Tuesday night which caused water-logging in many low-lying areas.