News Analysis India

Tag: North india rains

  • Fresh spell of rain in Punjab, Haryana; Bhakra dam under watch after surge

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Authorities are keeping a watch on the rising water level in the Bhakra dam as rain lashed many places in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday, leaving several low-lying areas inundated in both states.

    The pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, connected through the Kartarpur corridor, was further suspended for the next two days because of the rain.

    The decision was taken following an assessment made by Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal and the BSF officials.

    Following rain in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the water level in the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar rose from 87,177 cusecs at 8 am to 2,51,987 cusecs at 2 pm, said officials. It, however, dropped to 1,85,738 cusecs at 6 pm, they said.

    The water level in Bhakra dam, the maximum storage capacity of which is 1,680 feet, reached 1,652 feet. Built on the Sutlej river, the dam has seen its water rise by 12 feet since July 16.

    The authorities in Nangal in Punjab’s Rupnagar district have asked people to remain vigilant in the wake of rising water in the dam. With the surge, it will be important to see when the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decides to release water from its spillways (floodgates).

    The fresh spell of rain has again sent people scampering to shore up resources and protect their property in the two states. The Saturday rain threw normal life out of gear in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur where many areas were inundated.

    An official said about 72 cattle heads, two cows and 70 buffaloes, were rescued from a flooding rivulet in the Talwara area. The seasonal creek was flooded due to heavy rain in the hills in Himachal Pradesh and sub-mountainous areas. The official appealed to people in low-lying areas to move to safer places under the apprehension of inundation from the swollen rivulet.

    Ramdaspur and Gondpur in the Garhdiwala area were also reported flooded. The heritage street near the Golden Temple in Amritsar too was waterlogged.

    In Haryana’s Ambala, the Tangri river was in spate and water entered several houses in some areas of Ambala Cantonment. According to a report from the irrigation department, around 15,000 cusecs of water was released in the Tangri River on Saturday morning.

    The district administration declared the closure of schools in surrounding areas of the dam and appealed to the people living in its vicinity to take shelter in safer places. The water level in the Ghaggar river has also risen.

    According to a report of the weather department in Chandigarh, Haryana’s Ambala Saturday received 13 mm of rainfall while Narnaul received 6 mm, Karnal 46 mm, Panchkula 19 mm, and Yamunanagar 18.5 mm.

    In Punjab, Amritsar was the wettest with 85 mm of rainfall, followed by 74 mm in Ferozepur, 54.5 mm in Jalandhar, 45.5 mm in Moga, 41.5 in Faridkot, 8 mm in SBS Nagar, and 4 mm in Mohali.

    The Union Territory of Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, received 5 mm of rainfall, the MeT department said.

    CHANDIGARH: Authorities are keeping a watch on the rising water level in the Bhakra dam as rain lashed many places in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday, leaving several low-lying areas inundated in both states.

    The pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, connected through the Kartarpur corridor, was further suspended for the next two days because of the rain.

    The decision was taken following an assessment made by Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal and the BSF officials.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Following rain in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the water level in the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar rose from 87,177 cusecs at 8 am to 2,51,987 cusecs at 2 pm, said officials. It, however, dropped to 1,85,738 cusecs at 6 pm, they said.

    The water level in Bhakra dam, the maximum storage capacity of which is 1,680 feet, reached 1,652 feet. Built on the Sutlej river, the dam has seen its water rise by 12 feet since July 16.

    The authorities in Nangal in Punjab’s Rupnagar district have asked people to remain vigilant in the wake of rising water in the dam. With the surge, it will be important to see when the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decides to release water from its spillways (floodgates).

    The fresh spell of rain has again sent people scampering to shore up resources and protect their property in the two states. The Saturday rain threw normal life out of gear in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur where many areas were inundated.

    An official said about 72 cattle heads, two cows and 70 buffaloes, were rescued from a flooding rivulet in the Talwara area. The seasonal creek was flooded due to heavy rain in the hills in Himachal Pradesh and sub-mountainous areas. The official appealed to people in low-lying areas to move to safer places under the apprehension of inundation from the swollen rivulet.

    Ramdaspur and Gondpur in the Garhdiwala area were also reported flooded. The heritage street near the Golden Temple in Amritsar too was waterlogged.

    In Haryana’s Ambala, the Tangri river was in spate and water entered several houses in some areas of Ambala Cantonment. According to a report from the irrigation department, around 15,000 cusecs of water was released in the Tangri River on Saturday morning.

    The district administration declared the closure of schools in surrounding areas of the dam and appealed to the people living in its vicinity to take shelter in safer places. The water level in the Ghaggar river has also risen.

    According to a report of the weather department in Chandigarh, Haryana’s Ambala Saturday received 13 mm of rainfall while Narnaul received 6 mm, Karnal 46 mm, Panchkula 19 mm, and Yamunanagar 18.5 mm.

    In Punjab, Amritsar was the wettest with 85 mm of rainfall, followed by 74 mm in Ferozepur, 54.5 mm in Jalandhar, 45.5 mm in Moga, 41.5 in Faridkot, 8 mm in SBS Nagar, and 4 mm in Mohali.

    The Union Territory of Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, received 5 mm of rainfall, the MeT department said.

  • Flood fury: Death toll in Punjab, Haryana rises to 62 as both states ramp up repair, relief work

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: At least 62 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana during the recent spell of torrential downpour that battered parts of northern India, officials said on Sunday.

    With floodwaters receding in many areas of the two states, authorities have started working on restoring power and water supplies and repairing damaged infrastructure in flood-hit areas, they said.

    Relief work was still underway in several places, including the Sangrur and Patiala districts of Punjab, and breaches in earthen embankments along the Ghaggar river are being repaired.

    Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday said schools that were ordered to be closed till Sunday will reopen from July 17. He also asked deputy commissioners to take decisions at their own levels in case any school is waterlogged or damaged.

    Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by heavy downpour last week that has left normal life paralysed. According to official data, 32 people have died in Punjab because of rain-related incidents and 30 in neighbouring Haryana.

    Over 26,000 people have so far been evacuated to safer places from waterlogged areas in flood-hit districts of Punjab and more than 5,917 in Haryana.

    The floods caused by the rain have affected 15 districts in Punjab and 13 in Haryana.

    The health department has been asked to take steps to prevent the outbreak of any water and vector-borne diseases in the flood-affected areas, the officials said.

    The water level at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana’s Yamunanagar was 54,282 cusecs at 8 am which later rose to 81,430 cusecs at 2 pm and then dropped to 61,592 cusecs at 5 pm.

    Speaking to reporters in Rohtak on Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar hit out at the AAP leadership for blaming his state over floods in parts of Delhi, saying the blame game is neither in the interest of humanity, the state nor the country.

    AAP leaders have alleged that the BJP-led government in Haryana released excessive water from the barrage which flooded the Yamuna river, with water flowing onto the streets and roads of the national capital.

    The officials said efforts were underway to plug the breach that appeared along the Ghaggar river in Punjab’s Mansa. The breach was formed on Saturday in an embankment near the Chandpura bundh in the Budhlada sub-division.

    The breach caused water from the river to enter the fields in the district’s Gorakhnath and Birewala Dogran villages. It is feared that water may enter other villages as well, the officials said.

    The Mansa district administration has already set up several relief camps for flood-affected people, they said, adding that the ravaging Ghaggar has also inundated swathes of agricultural fields in Haryana’s Fatehabad district.

    In Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, several villages in the Dasuya sub-division were inundated following heavy overnight rain, prompting authorities to shift some residents to safer places, the officials said on Sunday.

    Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the administration has started work on resuming the supply of drinking water, restoring electricity, and repairing the damaged infrastructure.

    “We have gone through a tough situation together and as things slowly return to normalcy, I want to thank each and every person for their patience and cooperation during this time,” Sawhney said to the people of Patiala.

    In Sangrur, the Moonak and Khanauri areas were the worst affected with a swollen Ghaggar inundating vast tracts of land.

    Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal said water has started receding gradually in the Ghaggar river and the district administration has continuously been trying to plug the breaches.

    In Kapurthala, as the water level in the flood-affected areas in Sultanpur Lodhi started receding, the district administration said it is fully geared up to implement measures to prevent water-borne diseases. Public announcements were also being made in flood-hit areas, asking people to boil water before drinking. The authorities were also providing cattle feed and fodder in flood-hit areas.

    In Punjab, a total of 148 relief camps are functioning where 3,731 people have been sheltered, the officials said.

    A total of 1,414 villages in 15 districts have been affected by floods in the state, they said.

    Meanwhile, Khattar said a report of assessment of the losses caused to life and property in the state is expected to come from affected districts in the next two days.

    “But according to the information so far, 30 people have lost their lives, 133 houses have been completely damaged, 183 houses partially damaged and 110 animals have died,” he said.

    Khattar said farmers will be asked to register their losses on the ‘e-fasal Kshatipoorti’ portal and after that, a survey will be done.

    In Haryana, 5,917 people have so far been evacuated to safe places with nearly 1,300 villages being ravaged by the floods.

    Thirty-seven relief camps have been opened in the state where 2,852 people have taken shelter, according to Haryana government data updated till 5 pm on Sunday.

    The government said 1.72 lakh hectares of agricultural area were destroyed in the floods.

    CHANDIGARH: At least 62 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana during the recent spell of torrential downpour that battered parts of northern India, officials said on Sunday.

    With floodwaters receding in many areas of the two states, authorities have started working on restoring power and water supplies and repairing damaged infrastructure in flood-hit areas, they said.

    Relief work was still underway in several places, including the Sangrur and Patiala districts of Punjab, and breaches in earthen embankments along the Ghaggar river are being repaired.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Sunday said schools that were ordered to be closed till Sunday will reopen from July 17. He also asked deputy commissioners to take decisions at their own levels in case any school is waterlogged or damaged.

    Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by heavy downpour last week that has left normal life paralysed. According to official data, 32 people have died in Punjab because of rain-related incidents and 30 in neighbouring Haryana.

    Over 26,000 people have so far been evacuated to safer places from waterlogged areas in flood-hit districts of Punjab and more than 5,917 in Haryana.

    The floods caused by the rain have affected 15 districts in Punjab and 13 in Haryana.

    The health department has been asked to take steps to prevent the outbreak of any water and vector-borne diseases in the flood-affected areas, the officials said.

    The water level at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana’s Yamunanagar was 54,282 cusecs at 8 am which later rose to 81,430 cusecs at 2 pm and then dropped to 61,592 cusecs at 5 pm.

    Speaking to reporters in Rohtak on Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar hit out at the AAP leadership for blaming his state over floods in parts of Delhi, saying the blame game is neither in the interest of humanity, the state nor the country.

    AAP leaders have alleged that the BJP-led government in Haryana released excessive water from the barrage which flooded the Yamuna river, with water flowing onto the streets and roads of the national capital.

    The officials said efforts were underway to plug the breach that appeared along the Ghaggar river in Punjab’s Mansa. The breach was formed on Saturday in an embankment near the Chandpura bundh in the Budhlada sub-division.

    The breach caused water from the river to enter the fields in the district’s Gorakhnath and Birewala Dogran villages. It is feared that water may enter other villages as well, the officials said.

    The Mansa district administration has already set up several relief camps for flood-affected people, they said, adding that the ravaging Ghaggar has also inundated swathes of agricultural fields in Haryana’s Fatehabad district.

    In Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, several villages in the Dasuya sub-division were inundated following heavy overnight rain, prompting authorities to shift some residents to safer places, the officials said on Sunday.

    Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the administration has started work on resuming the supply of drinking water, restoring electricity, and repairing the damaged infrastructure.

    “We have gone through a tough situation together and as things slowly return to normalcy, I want to thank each and every person for their patience and cooperation during this time,” Sawhney said to the people of Patiala.

    In Sangrur, the Moonak and Khanauri areas were the worst affected with a swollen Ghaggar inundating vast tracts of land.

    Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal said water has started receding gradually in the Ghaggar river and the district administration has continuously been trying to plug the breaches.

    In Kapurthala, as the water level in the flood-affected areas in Sultanpur Lodhi started receding, the district administration said it is fully geared up to implement measures to prevent water-borne diseases. Public announcements were also being made in flood-hit areas, asking people to boil water before drinking. The authorities were also providing cattle feed and fodder in flood-hit areas.

    In Punjab, a total of 148 relief camps are functioning where 3,731 people have been sheltered, the officials said.

    A total of 1,414 villages in 15 districts have been affected by floods in the state, they said.

    Meanwhile, Khattar said a report of assessment of the losses caused to life and property in the state is expected to come from affected districts in the next two days.

    “But according to the information so far, 30 people have lost their lives, 133 houses have been completely damaged, 183 houses partially damaged and 110 animals have died,” he said.

    Khattar said farmers will be asked to register their losses on the ‘e-fasal Kshatipoorti’ portal and after that, a survey will be done.

    In Haryana, 5,917 people have so far been evacuated to safe places with nearly 1,300 villages being ravaged by the floods.

    Thirty-seven relief camps have been opened in the state where 2,852 people have taken shelter, according to Haryana government data updated till 5 pm on Sunday.

    The government said 1.72 lakh hectares of agricultural area were destroyed in the floods.

  • Uttarakhand monsoon ‘mayhem’: Red alert issued for seven districts; relief teams on high alert

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

  • Rains continue to lash Punjab, Haryana; Army assistance sought in Patiala

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Rains battered parts of Punjab and Haryana for the third consecutive day on Monday with authorities working round the clock to reach out to people in the worst-hit places in hours of crisis.

    According to the meteorological department, it has been raining in many parts of Punjab and Haryana since morning.

    In view of the prevailing situation caused due to incessant rains, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled all his pre-scheduled programmes for the day and summoned an emergency meeting of senior officials of various departments, including Home, Disaster Management and Urban Local Bodies, officials said.

    Khattar will also be holding a meeting with deputy commissioners later in the day through video-conferencing, they said.

    READ MORE: Delhi submerged as torrential rain continues on Day 2

    Authorities have already ordered the closure of schools in some affected areas in Punjab and Haryana.

    As torrential rains battered several parts of Punjab, Army assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Rajpura town following a breach.

    The Army has been put on alert in some other parts of Punjab, officials said.

    In Rajpura, water entered a private hospital and the patients were shifted to two other hospitals, they said. In some places in Punjab, there were breaches in distributaries and minor canals.

    A street dog near a waterlogged road during monsoon rain near Yamuna Bazar area, in New Delhi (Photo | PTI)

    Fields were inundated at many places in Punjab and parts of Haryana causing crop damage. Tracts of land near Sutlej and Ghaggar river were inundated.

    ALSO READ: As rains lash India, IMD issues red alert in Himachal Pradesh, flood alert for two Jammu districts

    In some places in Punjab, water gushed into houses and in a few places, people were evacuated to safer places.

    The heavy monsoon downpour continued to lead to traffic snarls on key road stretches in the two states, the officials said.

    Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav had earlier said extensive arrangements have been made to deal with any kind of exigency arising out of potential floods.

    Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed in the flood-ravaged districts, including Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib.

    Schools have also been ordered to remain shut on Monday in some worst-affected districts of Punjab and Haryana, including Rupnagar, Mohali, Patiala, Ambala and Panchkula.

    ALSO READ | 13 killed as rains, flash floods lash U’khand, HP

    In the wake of a flood-like situation due to incessant rains in several parts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had on Sunday directed all the cabinet ministers, MLAs and officials to stay alert and reach out to people in need.

    Flood control rooms have been set up in all the districts of Punjab to help the people in hours of crisis.

    Helpline numbers have been publicised and officials have been appointed round the clock in these control rooms to serve the people, an official statement said.

    Owing to the heavy rains, the water level of the Yamuna river at Hathini Kund Barrage is constantly increasing, due to which people of low-lying areas adjacent to Yamuna have been asked to stay away from the riverbank, the officials said.

    On Monday at 8 am, 2.79 lakh cusecs of water were discharged from the barrage, they said.

    In Punjab’s Rupnagar, Siswan Nadi breached near Kamalpur, the officials said.

    Rains lashed Chandigarh, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, among other places in Haryana while Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Rupnagar and Patiala in Punjab also received showers.

    Due to incessant rains in the catchment areas of the Sukhna Lake here, two of the floodgates were opened on Sunday, the officials said.

    CHANDIGARH: Rains battered parts of Punjab and Haryana for the third consecutive day on Monday with authorities working round the clock to reach out to people in the worst-hit places in hours of crisis.

    According to the meteorological department, it has been raining in many parts of Punjab and Haryana since morning.

    In view of the prevailing situation caused due to incessant rains, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled all his pre-scheduled programmes for the day and summoned an emergency meeting of senior officials of various departments, including Home, Disaster Management and Urban Local Bodies, officials said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Khattar will also be holding a meeting with deputy commissioners later in the day through video-conferencing, they said.

    READ MORE: Delhi submerged as torrential rain continues on Day 2

    Authorities have already ordered the closure of schools in some affected areas in Punjab and Haryana.

    As torrential rains battered several parts of Punjab, Army assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Rajpura town following a breach.

    The Army has been put on alert in some other parts of Punjab, officials said.

    In Rajpura, water entered a private hospital and the patients were shifted to two other hospitals, they said. In some places in Punjab, there were breaches in distributaries and minor canals.

    A street dog near a waterlogged road during monsoon rain near Yamuna Bazar area, in New Delhi (Photo | PTI)

    Fields were inundated at many places in Punjab and parts of Haryana causing crop damage. Tracts of land near Sutlej and Ghaggar river were inundated.

    ALSO READ: As rains lash India, IMD issues red alert in Himachal Pradesh, flood alert for two Jammu districts

    In some places in Punjab, water gushed into houses and in a few places, people were evacuated to safer places.

    The heavy monsoon downpour continued to lead to traffic snarls on key road stretches in the two states, the officials said.

    Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav had earlier said extensive arrangements have been made to deal with any kind of exigency arising out of potential floods.

    Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed in the flood-ravaged districts, including Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib.

    Schools have also been ordered to remain shut on Monday in some worst-affected districts of Punjab and Haryana, including Rupnagar, Mohali, Patiala, Ambala and Panchkula.

    ALSO READ | 13 killed as rains, flash floods lash U’khand, HP

    In the wake of a flood-like situation due to incessant rains in several parts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had on Sunday directed all the cabinet ministers, MLAs and officials to stay alert and reach out to people in need.

    Flood control rooms have been set up in all the districts of Punjab to help the people in hours of crisis.

    Helpline numbers have been publicised and officials have been appointed round the clock in these control rooms to serve the people, an official statement said.

    Owing to the heavy rains, the water level of the Yamuna river at Hathini Kund Barrage is constantly increasing, due to which people of low-lying areas adjacent to Yamuna have been asked to stay away from the riverbank, the officials said.

    On Monday at 8 am, 2.79 lakh cusecs of water were discharged from the barrage, they said.

    In Punjab’s Rupnagar, Siswan Nadi breached near Kamalpur, the officials said.

    Rains lashed Chandigarh, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, among other places in Haryana while Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Rupnagar and Patiala in Punjab also received showers.

    Due to incessant rains in the catchment areas of the Sukhna Lake here, two of the floodgates were opened on Sunday, the officials said.

  • Southwest monsoon unlikely to retreat from northwest India by September-end: IMD

    An anticyclonic wind has to form over the lower troposphere, and there should also be considerable reduction in moisture content.

  • Monsoon to reach remaining parts of north India by July 10: IMD

    It said that a low pressure area is likely to form over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts around July 11.