News Analysis India

Tag: rain

  • Heavy rains in Jammu cause landslides, block Jammu-Kashmir highway 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Several landslides on Sunday blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district as heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu province overnight, officials said.

    Landslides and shooting of stones from hillocks overlooking the strategic highway at Cafeteria and Mehad forced the suspension of vehicular traffic, the officials said.

    The fresh landslides were triggered by the heavy rains overnight, they said.

    The officials said efforts were on to ensure early restoration of the highway- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

    Jammu city and other parts of the district received heavy rains overnight, rendering many roads waterlogged and commuters incapacitated.

    Jammu city recorded 95.7 mm, Udhampur 92.6 mm, and Kathua 42.0 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Sunday, the officials said.

    Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, witnessed 14 mm of rainfall.

    The weather office has forecast more rainfall at many places across the Union Territory in the next 48 hours with possibility of heavy showers at a few places in the Jammu region.

    JAMMU: Several landslides on Sunday blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district as heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu province overnight, officials said.

    Landslides and shooting of stones from hillocks overlooking the strategic highway at Cafeteria and Mehad forced the suspension of vehicular traffic, the officials said.

    The fresh landslides were triggered by the heavy rains overnight, they said.

    The officials said efforts were on to ensure early restoration of the highway- the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

    Jammu city and other parts of the district received heavy rains overnight, rendering many roads waterlogged and commuters incapacitated.

    Jammu city recorded 95.7 mm, Udhampur 92.6 mm, and Kathua 42.0 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Sunday, the officials said.

    Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, witnessed 14 mm of rainfall.

    The weather office has forecast more rainfall at many places across the Union Territory in the next 48 hours with possibility of heavy showers at a few places in the Jammu region.

  • Rain fury: Heavy release of water from Rajasthan dams put MP rivers in spate

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: While the flood waters are receding in central MP districts, including worst-hit Vidisha, the heavy release of water from dams in Rajasthan, has put most rivers, particularly Parvati and Chambal in spate, resulting in grim flood situation in Morena, Bhind and Sheopur districts of Gwalior-Chambal region.

    The heavy release of water from Kota Barrage and the Kalisindh Dam (both in Rajasthan) has caused a rise in the Parvati river in Morena and Sheopur and the Chambal river in Bhind and Sheopur districts.

    According to official sources, around 6000 villagers have been shifted to safer places by five teams of SDRF.

    In Bhind district, two flood-hit villages have been evacuated fully. Residents of 15 more villages will be shifted depending on the pace of rise in Chambal river.

    In the Morena district, rising Parvati river has forced the evacuation of residents from six villages and if the situation continues to worsen, then residents from 44 more villages will also be shifted to safer places on Thursday morning.

    As many as 12 SDRF teams and one NDRF team have been pressed into action in the three districts of the Gwalior-Chambal region to deal with any eventuality.

    The CM conducted an aerial survey of Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts of the Gwalior-Chambal region, where the situation is grim owing to the continuous rise in Parvati, Chambal and other rivers.

    At the time of filing this news report, the CM was meeting flood victim families shifted to a shelter camp in Kuthiyana village of Morena district. 

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: Two washed away in Rajasthan; locals in MP affected by rain-related incidents

    Continuing aerial survey and boat connection of areas affected by floods, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached the 250 houses in flood-affected areas of Vidisha district. He mostly connected with the villages through a boat before wading through the knee-deep water to meet the affected families.

    While assuring the flood-hit families all possible help, Chouhan also distributed food packets to residents of settlements under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana.

    The CM conducted an aerial survey of the worst hit Mudrakheda and Tanaja Gadla villages of Vidisha district. While conducting the aerial survey, he connected over the phone with a local resident Narayan Singh Banwasi, who had earlier rang the CM office for help.

    He subsequently connected through his helicopter communication system with the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, already engaged in rescue operations, and coordinated with the IAF team in rescuing the stranded villagers from the flood-hit parts.

    Earlier in the day, the CM said that work should be started on a war footing for the restoration of drinking water and electricity supply, repair of damaged roads, broken culverts and cleanliness in the flood-affected areas.

    “To prevent the spread of diseases, medical teams should be formed to arrange disinfectant spraying and health test kits should be transported to the affected areas. It should be ensured that there is no shortage of machines and necessary staff to restore the situation in the most affected areas. If needed, machines and staff should be made available from other districts. There should be no shortage of resources anywhere,” he said

    He further said that the assessment of the loss of houses, household items, crops and cattle due to floods and excessive rains should be ensured in a transparent manner and with sensitivity.

    “In assessing the loss, an attitude of generosity towards poor families should be kept. The district administration should also make arrangements for food for the next few days for the families most affected by the floods. A dry ration can be provided to them. Social organisations should also be involved in providing essential materials and relief work to needy people,” the CM said.

    The CM said that the inspection of dams is necessary from the point of view of safety. He directed that the Water Resources Department and Narmada Valley Development Authority should conduct a micro-inspection of all the big and small dams under their control.

    BHOPAL: While the flood waters are receding in central MP districts, including worst-hit Vidisha, the heavy release of water from dams in Rajasthan, has put most rivers, particularly Parvati and Chambal in spate, resulting in grim flood situation in Morena, Bhind and Sheopur districts of Gwalior-Chambal region.

    The heavy release of water from Kota Barrage and the Kalisindh Dam (both in Rajasthan) has caused a rise in the Parvati river in Morena and Sheopur and the Chambal river in Bhind and Sheopur districts.

    According to official sources, around 6000 villagers have been shifted to safer places by five teams of SDRF.

    In Bhind district, two flood-hit villages have been evacuated fully. Residents of 15 more villages will be shifted depending on the pace of rise in Chambal river.

    In the Morena district, rising Parvati river has forced the evacuation of residents from six villages and if the situation continues to worsen, then residents from 44 more villages will also be shifted to safer places on Thursday morning.

    As many as 12 SDRF teams and one NDRF team have been pressed into action in the three districts of the Gwalior-Chambal region to deal with any eventuality.

    The CM conducted an aerial survey of Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts of the Gwalior-Chambal region, where the situation is grim owing to the continuous rise in Parvati, Chambal and other rivers.

    At the time of filing this news report, the CM was meeting flood victim families shifted to a shelter camp in Kuthiyana village of Morena district. 

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: Two washed away in Rajasthan; locals in MP affected by rain-related incidents

    Continuing aerial survey and boat connection of areas affected by floods, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached the 250 houses in flood-affected areas of Vidisha district. He mostly connected with the villages through a boat before wading through the knee-deep water to meet the affected families.

    While assuring the flood-hit families all possible help, Chouhan also distributed food packets to residents of settlements under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana.

    The CM conducted an aerial survey of the worst hit Mudrakheda and Tanaja Gadla villages of Vidisha district. While conducting the aerial survey, he connected over the phone with a local resident Narayan Singh Banwasi, who had earlier rang the CM office for help.

    He subsequently connected through his helicopter communication system with the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, already engaged in rescue operations, and coordinated with the IAF team in rescuing the stranded villagers from the flood-hit parts.

    Earlier in the day, the CM said that work should be started on a war footing for the restoration of drinking water and electricity supply, repair of damaged roads, broken culverts and cleanliness in the flood-affected areas.

    “To prevent the spread of diseases, medical teams should be formed to arrange disinfectant spraying and health test kits should be transported to the affected areas. It should be ensured that there is no shortage of machines and necessary staff to restore the situation in the most affected areas. If needed, machines and staff should be made available from other districts. There should be no shortage of resources anywhere,” he said

    He further said that the assessment of the loss of houses, household items, crops and cattle due to floods and excessive rains should be ensured in a transparent manner and with sensitivity.

    “In assessing the loss, an attitude of generosity towards poor families should be kept. The district administration should also make arrangements for food for the next few days for the families most affected by the floods. A dry ration can be provided to them. Social organisations should also be involved in providing essential materials and relief work to needy people,” the CM said.

    The CM said that the inspection of dams is necessary from the point of view of safety. He directed that the Water Resources Department and Narmada Valley Development Authority should conduct a micro-inspection of all the big and small dams under their control.

  • Monsoon fury: Two washed away in Rajasthan; locals in MP affected by rain-related incidents

    By PTI

    KOTA/ BHOPAL: Two people were washed away in floods and two others went missing in Baran and Bundi districts of Rajasthan, as heavy rains continued to lash the region on Tuesday.

    Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Minister Ramesh Meena on Tuesday toured the rain-affected areas of Karauli district.

    “Talked to the Principal Secretary to the CM and apprised him about the flood situation. Many villages have become islands. Villagers need help,” Meena tweeted.

    He instructed officials to arrange food and drinking water for the affected people.

    Torrential rains have created a flood-like situation in Rajasthan’s three districts – Jhalawar, Dholpur and Baran — where the army and disaster relief team carried out operations to rescue about 1,100 people from across the state, officials said on Tuesday.

    An IAF helicopter is also being deployed to airlift more than 50 people stuck in the waterlogged areas in Baran and Jhalawar districts while schools in all four districts of Kota division — Kota, Baran, Jhalawar and Bundi — have been shut, they said.

    Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Department Ashutosh Pednekar said army columns have been deployed in Dholpur and Jhalawar districts.

    Rivers like Chambal, Parvan, Parvati, and Kalisindh are flooded and excess water from overflowing dams is being released by opening their gates.

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

    The body of 35-year-old Premnarayan Suman, a resident of Dabri Kakaji village in Baran district, who had been swept away in the flood on Monday evening, was recovered Tuesday from near his village, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Anta circle) Tarun Kant Somani said.

    In Bundi district, Satyanarayan Prajapat, 50, a resident of Suwasda village fell into a flooded anicut on Tuesday morning while he was on his way to collect fodder for cattle near his village. Prajapat was found dead, Circle Inspector at (Nainwan) Babulal Meena said.

    The bodies of both, Suman and Prajapat, were handed over to their families after post-mortem later in the day.

    In Baran’s Shekhapur village, a 20-year-old man, identified as Ekram, was swept away while crossing a flooded brook along with his two friends Monday evening.

    WATCH |

     

    Locals rescued the two youths, while Ekram has not been located yet, Station House Officer (Kawai) Man Singh said.

    In Kota district, search operations were on to locate Kudeep Chauhan, who had fallen into a swollen Chambal river near Nayapura crematorium ground Monday evening.

    Another youth who had fallen into the Chambal while taking a selfie on Monday evening in Karbala area of Kota city, swam with the flow and came out on the other side of an over-bridge in Nayapura area, an eyewitness said.

    “In Dug town of Jhalawar district, Amritlal Tailor, his wife, and their three children were injured when their thatched house collapsed at around 5.30 am on Tuesday when they were asleep,” Dug SHO Amarnath said.

    “While Amritlal was referred to Jhalawar district hospital with fracture and critical injuries, four others from his family were under treatment at a local government hospital,” he said.

    Baran Collector Narendra Gupta said that 11 people, stranded for two days in the submerged Khurai village under Chabra police station of Baran district, were on Tuesday evening airlifted to a safe place by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter.

    Swollen Chambal river following incessant monsoon rains, in Kota on Tuesday

    Jhalawar Collector Bharti Dixit said that 53 persons have been rescued through boats, while 49 others were still stuck by evening and attempts to rescue them were still on.

    During the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Tuesday, 29 cm rainfall occurred in Jhalawar’s Dug, followed by 26 cm in Arnod (Pratapgarh) and Pidawa (Jhalawar), 23 cm in Bakani (Jhalawar), 17 cm in Gangdhar and Pachpahad (Jhalawar), 16 cm in Aklera (Jhalawar), 15 cm in Asnawar (Jhalawar), and 13 cm in Jhalrapatan (Jhalawar).

    The Met department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Banswara and Dungarpur districts and heavy rainfall in Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts on Tuesday.

    Locals face difficulties in heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh

    As heavy rainfalls continue to hit parts of Madhya Pradesh, the people of the state continue to face difficulties and bear damage to the public properties.

    In central and east Madhya Pradesh, it has been raining heavily for the last 24 hours. Also, there is a possibility of heavy rainfalls in Ratlam, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur in the coming hours.

    Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the rain and flood-affected areas.

    In the last 24 hours, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) together have rescued over 400 people from floods/excess rain in the state. The following number of people from floods/excess rain: Vidisha (190), Rajgarh (103), Ashoknagar (94), Raisen (7), Jabalpur (5), Mandla (3), Sidhi (2), Guna (3).

    ALSO READ | Rain fury brings life to a halt in several parts of MP, including state capital Bhopal

    Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj S Chouhan reviewed situations in rain-affected districts of the state and stated that assistance will be given by sending helicopters to Vidisha if need be.

    Chouhan said, “The people of 10 flood-affected villages from Vidisha and Guna districts will be airlifted using two helicopters. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed for rescue operations in the rain and flood-affected districts of the state.”

    Later, CM reviewed the flood situation in Vidisha district.

    “We will try our best to give adequate compensation for damages due to flood situation. I will soon visit the flood-affected districts of the state,” he said.

    In the state, the Parvati river is flowing at its maximum water level in Guna and the Ken river in Panna is close to its maximum water level. The water level of the Narmada river is 271.56 metres. In Vidisha, the Betwa river and its tributaries are overflowing.

    According to the information received this morning, the water level in dams like Rajghat, Gandhi Sagar, Bargi, Tawa, Handiya, Mohanpura, Barna, Kolar, Omkareshwar, Kaliasot, Bhadbhada etc. has increased significantly.

    Also, 11 gates of Bansujara Dam in Tikamgarh have been opened. Earlier on Monday, a red alert for rainfall has been issued in 39 districts of Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Neemuch and Mandsaur.

    Apart from this, moderate rainfall is to take place in 12 districts including Indore, Gwalior, Dhar and Khargone.

    Due to the incessant rains, District Collector and Magistrate Neeraj Kumar Singh had on Monday announced that there will be a holiday in all schools of the Narmadapuram district.

    Eight trains diverted on Guna-Maksi route 

    At least eight trains were diverted on Tuesday following the inundation of tracks due to heavy rain, which disrupted the rail traffic between Guna and Maksi in Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

    “Due to incessant rains, flood water reached the railway tracks in Biaora and Kumbhraj, leading to disruption of the rail traffic on the Guna-Maksi route,” said Guna station master RS Meena.

    He said while the eight trains were diverted, the Bina-Nagda train was cancelled.

    Meena said the Bina-Nagda train will move back from Guna while Sabarmati Express was diverted to the Bina-Bhopal route.

    “Some more evening trains may be affected,” he said.

    Many parts of MP, including Bhopal, witnessed heavy downpours over the last few days, leading to power supply disruptions in the state capital and other places. Narmadapuram, Vidisha and Guna districts are hit by floods.

    (With inputs from ANI)

    KOTA/ BHOPAL: Two people were washed away in floods and two others went missing in Baran and Bundi districts of Rajasthan, as heavy rains continued to lash the region on Tuesday.

    Rural Development and Panchayti Raj Minister Ramesh Meena on Tuesday toured the rain-affected areas of Karauli district.

    “Talked to the Principal Secretary to the CM and apprised him about the flood situation. Many villages have become islands. Villagers need help,” Meena tweeted.

    He instructed officials to arrange food and drinking water for the affected people.

    Torrential rains have created a flood-like situation in Rajasthan’s three districts – Jhalawar, Dholpur and Baran — where the army and disaster relief team carried out operations to rescue about 1,100 people from across the state, officials said on Tuesday.

    An IAF helicopter is also being deployed to airlift more than 50 people stuck in the waterlogged areas in Baran and Jhalawar districts while schools in all four districts of Kota division — Kota, Baran, Jhalawar and Bundi — have been shut, they said.

    Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Department Ashutosh Pednekar said army columns have been deployed in Dholpur and Jhalawar districts.

    Rivers like Chambal, Parvan, Parvati, and Kalisindh are flooded and excess water from overflowing dams is being released by opening their gates.

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

    The body of 35-year-old Premnarayan Suman, a resident of Dabri Kakaji village in Baran district, who had been swept away in the flood on Monday evening, was recovered Tuesday from near his village, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Anta circle) Tarun Kant Somani said.

    In Bundi district, Satyanarayan Prajapat, 50, a resident of Suwasda village fell into a flooded anicut on Tuesday morning while he was on his way to collect fodder for cattle near his village. Prajapat was found dead, Circle Inspector at (Nainwan) Babulal Meena said.

    The bodies of both, Suman and Prajapat, were handed over to their families after post-mortem later in the day.

    In Baran’s Shekhapur village, a 20-year-old man, identified as Ekram, was swept away while crossing a flooded brook along with his two friends Monday evening.

    WATCH |

     

    Locals rescued the two youths, while Ekram has not been located yet, Station House Officer (Kawai) Man Singh said.

    In Kota district, search operations were on to locate Kudeep Chauhan, who had fallen into a swollen Chambal river near Nayapura crematorium ground Monday evening.

    Another youth who had fallen into the Chambal while taking a selfie on Monday evening in Karbala area of Kota city, swam with the flow and came out on the other side of an over-bridge in Nayapura area, an eyewitness said.

    “In Dug town of Jhalawar district, Amritlal Tailor, his wife, and their three children were injured when their thatched house collapsed at around 5.30 am on Tuesday when they were asleep,” Dug SHO Amarnath said.

    “While Amritlal was referred to Jhalawar district hospital with fracture and critical injuries, four others from his family were under treatment at a local government hospital,” he said.

    Baran Collector Narendra Gupta said that 11 people, stranded for two days in the submerged Khurai village under Chabra police station of Baran district, were on Tuesday evening airlifted to a safe place by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter.

    Swollen Chambal river following incessant monsoon rains, in Kota on Tuesday

    Jhalawar Collector Bharti Dixit said that 53 persons have been rescued through boats, while 49 others were still stuck by evening and attempts to rescue them were still on.

    During the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Tuesday, 29 cm rainfall occurred in Jhalawar’s Dug, followed by 26 cm in Arnod (Pratapgarh) and Pidawa (Jhalawar), 23 cm in Bakani (Jhalawar), 17 cm in Gangdhar and Pachpahad (Jhalawar), 16 cm in Aklera (Jhalawar), 15 cm in Asnawar (Jhalawar), and 13 cm in Jhalrapatan (Jhalawar).

    The Met department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Banswara and Dungarpur districts and heavy rainfall in Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts on Tuesday.

    Locals face difficulties in heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh

    As heavy rainfalls continue to hit parts of Madhya Pradesh, the people of the state continue to face difficulties and bear damage to the public properties.

    In central and east Madhya Pradesh, it has been raining heavily for the last 24 hours. Also, there is a possibility of heavy rainfalls in Ratlam, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur in the coming hours.

    Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the rain and flood-affected areas.

    In the last 24 hours, State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) together have rescued over 400 people from floods/excess rain in the state. The following number of people from floods/excess rain: Vidisha (190), Rajgarh (103), Ashoknagar (94), Raisen (7), Jabalpur (5), Mandla (3), Sidhi (2), Guna (3).

    ALSO READ | Rain fury brings life to a halt in several parts of MP, including state capital Bhopal

    Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj S Chouhan reviewed situations in rain-affected districts of the state and stated that assistance will be given by sending helicopters to Vidisha if need be.

    Chouhan said, “The people of 10 flood-affected villages from Vidisha and Guna districts will be airlifted using two helicopters. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed for rescue operations in the rain and flood-affected districts of the state.”

    Later, CM reviewed the flood situation in Vidisha district.

    “We will try our best to give adequate compensation for damages due to flood situation. I will soon visit the flood-affected districts of the state,” he said.

    In the state, the Parvati river is flowing at its maximum water level in Guna and the Ken river in Panna is close to its maximum water level. The water level of the Narmada river is 271.56 metres. In Vidisha, the Betwa river and its tributaries are overflowing.

    According to the information received this morning, the water level in dams like Rajghat, Gandhi Sagar, Bargi, Tawa, Handiya, Mohanpura, Barna, Kolar, Omkareshwar, Kaliasot, Bhadbhada etc. has increased significantly.

    Also, 11 gates of Bansujara Dam in Tikamgarh have been opened. Earlier on Monday, a red alert for rainfall has been issued in 39 districts of Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Ratlam, Neemuch and Mandsaur.

    Apart from this, moderate rainfall is to take place in 12 districts including Indore, Gwalior, Dhar and Khargone.

    Due to the incessant rains, District Collector and Magistrate Neeraj Kumar Singh had on Monday announced that there will be a holiday in all schools of the Narmadapuram district.

    Eight trains diverted on Guna-Maksi route 

    At least eight trains were diverted on Tuesday following the inundation of tracks due to heavy rain, which disrupted the rail traffic between Guna and Maksi in Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

    “Due to incessant rains, flood water reached the railway tracks in Biaora and Kumbhraj, leading to disruption of the rail traffic on the Guna-Maksi route,” said Guna station master RS Meena.

    He said while the eight trains were diverted, the Bina-Nagda train was cancelled.

    Meena said the Bina-Nagda train will move back from Guna while Sabarmati Express was diverted to the Bina-Bhopal route.

    “Some more evening trains may be affected,” he said.

    Many parts of MP, including Bhopal, witnessed heavy downpours over the last few days, leading to power supply disruptions in the state capital and other places. Narmadapuram, Vidisha and Guna districts are hit by floods.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Over 51 per cent rain deficit, Jharkhand government set to declare state as drought-hit

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: With a nearly 51 per cent rain deficit, Hemant Soren government is all set to declare Jharkhand as drought-hit. An emergency meeting was called by state agriculture minister on Tuesday during which he took a stalk of the situation and informed that a final decision will be taken within a couple of days after a discussion with the disaster management minister.

    A detailed report is being prepared in this regard, on the basis of which, the final decision will be taken by holding a meeting with senior officials of the Agriculture and Disaster Management Department.

    Agriculture Minister Badal Pratralekh said that he is very concerned about the farmers of the state and that under the Jharkhand State Fasal Rahat Yojana, 20,000 Common Service Centers of the state are assisting the farmers.

    “The next 20 days are very critical, so everyone will have to work together.”

    “An emergency meeting was called to discuss the contingency plan, diversification alternatives which farmers should adopt, was called with the senior scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of all 24 districts of Jharkhand, Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agriculture University and other senior officials relatedto agriculture and chalk out short term and long term plans to deal with it,” the Agriculture Minister said.

    “According to the advice of agricultural scientists, an awareness campaign should be launched for the farmers by preparing documents,” he added.

    “I visited Palamu Division recently and found that less than 1.5 per cent sowing was done in Garhwa, less than 0.25 per cent in Palamu and 3 per cent in Latehar. A serious crisis is likely to emerge in the State. Due to low rainfall, sowing work has not been done properly which is a matter of concern and in such a situation, farmers expect excellent examples of quality research from agricultural scientists, he said.

    According to Badal, the state has recorded 51 per cent rain deficit and 21 out of the 24 districts are the worst hit. Barring East and West Singhbhum districts, status of rainfall is scary in other districts due to which, only 22 per cent of sowing has been done in the state.

    Notably, Jharkhand has received 234.4 mm rainfall from June 1 to July 25, against the normal rainfall forecast of 467.4 mm during the period. Of the 24 districts, 17 districts are facing rain shortfalls of above 51 per cent with Chatra and Sahibganj facing the highest 79 per cent deficit.

    “Jharkhand is among the few states in the country which are facing rainfall deficit. State’s rainfall distribution is good but the quantity is very poor. Until there is a strong system, the rainfall deficit will not come down,” said Director at Ranchi Meteorological Centre Abhishek Anand.

    RANCHI: With a nearly 51 per cent rain deficit, Hemant Soren government is all set to declare Jharkhand as drought-hit. An emergency meeting was called by state agriculture minister on Tuesday during which he took a stalk of the situation and informed that a final decision will be taken within a couple of days after a discussion with the disaster management minister.

    A detailed report is being prepared in this regard, on the basis of which, the final decision will be taken by holding a meeting with senior officials of the Agriculture and Disaster Management Department.

    Agriculture Minister Badal Pratralekh said that he is very concerned about the farmers of the state and that under the Jharkhand State Fasal Rahat Yojana, 20,000 Common Service Centers of the state are assisting the farmers.

    “The next 20 days are very critical, so everyone will have to work together.”

    “An emergency meeting was called to discuss the contingency plan, diversification alternatives which farmers should adopt, was called with the senior scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of all 24 districts of Jharkhand, Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agriculture University and other senior officials related
    to agriculture and chalk out short term and long term plans to deal with it,” the Agriculture Minister said.

    “According to the advice of agricultural scientists, an awareness campaign should be launched for the farmers by preparing documents,” he added.

    “I visited Palamu Division recently and found that less than 1.5 per cent sowing was done in Garhwa, less than 0.25 per cent in Palamu and 3 per cent in Latehar. A serious crisis is likely to emerge in the State. Due to low rainfall, sowing work has not been done properly which is a matter of concern and in such a situation, farmers expect excellent examples of quality research from agricultural scientists, he said.

    According to Badal, the state has recorded 51 per cent rain deficit and 21 out of the 24 districts are the worst hit. Barring East and West Singhbhum districts, status of rainfall is scary in other districts due to which, only 22 per cent of sowing has been done in the state.

    Notably, Jharkhand has received 234.4 mm rainfall from June 1 to July 25, against the normal rainfall forecast of 467.4 mm during the period. Of the 24 districts, 17 districts are facing rain shortfalls of above 51 per cent with Chatra and Sahibganj facing the highest 79 per cent deficit.

    “Jharkhand is among the few states in the country which are facing rainfall deficit. State’s rainfall distribution is good but the quantity is very poor. Until there is a strong system, the rainfall deficit will not come down,” said Director at Ranchi Meteorological Centre Abhishek Anand.

  • Flood-like situation in Ahmedabad after heavy rainfall

    By ANI

    AHMEDABAD: Heavy rainfall resulted in severe water logging and a flood-like situation in Ahmedabad on Monday. The Meteorological Department predicted light to moderate rainfall in the entire state for the next five days.

    Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in many districts of South Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch.

    “For the next 5 days, light to moderate rainfall is expected in the entire state. Extremely heavy rainfall is expected in many districts of South Gujarat, Saurashtra & Kutch. The intensity of rainfall will reduce by July 15,” said Dr Manorama Mohanty, Director, Meteorological Department.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured all possible help to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel as heavy rains caused flood-like situations in the state’s various areas.

    In a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister, the Home Minister also took stock of the situation in the state that arose due to heavy rains affecting several villages.

    “With reference to flood-like situations arising due to heavy rains in various areas of Gujarat, I have spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and assured all possible help from the Modi government,” Shah said in a tweet.

    Gujarat administration, State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in providing quick help to the affected people, the Home Minister further said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assured Gujarat Chief Minister to provide all necessary help including NDRF to tackle the situation from the Centre to mitigate the sufferings of the people affected by the flood in the state.

    According to Gujarat CM PRO, Modi had a telephonic conversation with Patel to enquire about the dire situation created by widespread and heavy rains in the state.

    The Gujarat Chief Minister gave full details to the Prime Minister about the heavy rains that have lashed out across the state in the last 48 hours, especially in the South and Central Gujarat region and the situation that has arisen as a result of the same.

    Several villages in Gujarat have been cut off, prompting officials to deploy helicopters to rescue people. Several people have lost their lives so far due to the floods.NDRF teams are working to rescue people. Over 2000 people have been evacuated from various areas. Efforts to rescue more are on.

    The Meteorological department said that Gujarat’s situation is due to flash floods. The state received 18 inches of rainfall in just four hours. People are now struggling to procure even essential items.

    Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad was inundated with a record of 115 mm plus rainfall in just three hours on Sunday, setting the highest record in the past five years in a single day in July. 

  • Heavy morning showers inundate parts of Mumbai; traffic movement affected 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Heavy rains and strong winds lashed Mumbai and suburbs on Tuesday morning and flooded many parts of the city within a couple of hours, throwing road traffic out of gear at some places, officials said. 

    A tree fell near a petrol pump close to the Dockyard railway station of the Harbour Line, due to which traffic movement was affected. The tree was later moved aside and the traffic resumed but it was slow, a police official said.

    Some commuters claimed that the local trains, considered as the lifeline of Mumbai, were running late by five to 10 minutes. But, officials of the Western Railway and the Central Railway said the services were running normally.

    There was water-logging up to two feet at some places and vehicular movement was slow in some of the western suburbs, according to the Mumbai police.

    After light showers for a couple of days, heavy rains made a comeback to the metropolis on Monday night. The city and suburbs witnessed incessant showers on Tuesday morning.

    There was water-logging up to two feet at the Andheri subway, and traffic from there was diverted to the S V Road, a police official said. 

    Some areas near the south-bound end of the Bandra-Worli sea link, Mahalaxmi junction, Gamadia junction, Tardeo were also inundated up to 0.5 feet. A similar water-logging was witnessed at the Hindmata junction due to which the south-bound traffic was moving slow.

    Traffic movement was also slow in Pratap Nagar, Jogeshwari in the western suburbs, at some spots on the Western Express Highway, Netaji Palkar Chowk, Everard Nagar and near a family court in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, the official said.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs with a possibility of a very heavy downpour at isolated places and occasional gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph over the next 24 hours.

    On Monday, the IMD issued an ‘orange’ alert for Mumbai, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city for the next three days.

    The island city (south Mumbai) received 42.42 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period till 8 am on Tuesday as against 12.04 mm the day before.

    The eastern and western suburbs recorded 63.90 mm and 52.43 mm showers, respectively, compared to 22.12 mm and 12.76 mm the previous day, a civic official said.

    The MeT department issues four colour-coded predictions based on the prevailing weather conditions. The green colour indicates no warning, yellow is to keep a watch, orange is to stay alert, while red means a warning and that action needs to be taken.

  • Flash floods, landslides as heavy rains, snowfall lash Jammu-Kashmir

    By PTI

    JAMMU/ SRINAGAR: Heavy rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, triggering flash floods and landslides, with authorities forced to shut schools in several districts including Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban and evacuate people from low-lying areas, while the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained blocked for the second day leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

    In Kashmir, the Jhelum crossed the danger mark at Sangam in Anantnag district and the water level was rising in other rivers also, officials said. A high alert has been sounded in areas close to river Chenab and its tributaries, they said.

    Snowfall in the higher reaches including the holy cave shrine of Amarnath has brought down the day temperature substantially, the officials said. Police rescued 50 passengers travelling in ten vehicles which were trapped due to snowfall and heavy rains in the high-altitude area in Kishtwar district on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

    ”Snowfall and heavy rains triggered flash-floods in Simthan top area following which 50 passengers including some women and children, were stranded.

    The police got the track cleared and after a lot of hard work rescued all the passengers, an official said. The water level at Sangam in Anantnag district was measured at 21.60 ft, marginally above the 21-feet mark for flood declaration, they said.

    Vaishov stream, which flows mainly through Kulgam district, was flowing dangerously above the flood alert mark. However, the water level has started receding since 10 am, the officials said.

    A breach was reported in a temporary diversion along the banks of Vaishov stream as Chamgund in Kulgam, they said adding many areas of the district have been flooded. Authorities have started moving people from low-lying areas to safer locations, they said.

    The Doodhganga stream was also flowing close to flood alarm level at Barzulla in the heart of Srinagar’s civil lines area. The weatherman had forecast improvement in weather later in the day. Schools in many parts of the valley were closed due to the heavy rains which resulted in waterlogging in low-lying areas.

    Many houses in Bemina, Rambagh and Rajbagh areas of the city were affected due to water-logging. A group of 14 trekkers was stranded near Tarser Lake in south Kashmir and a rescue team was rushed to the spot from Pahalgam.

    The snowfall in the upper reaches and rains in the plains have sent the mercury nosediving and Srinagar witnessed its coldest June day in almost 50 years, according to available data. Srinagar on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 15.0 degrees Celsius, which was 14.2 degrees lower than normal for this time of the year.

    An incident of house collapse was also reported from Ramban district, while five people trapped in flash floods in river Ans in Reasi district were rescued by the police, officials said. The Doda district administration has declared high alert in several areas in the mountainous district.

    “We have been forced to declare high alert in areas close to river Chenab and its tributaries, and also on slopes and slide-prone areas of Ramban and Doda districts,” an official said.

    The 270-kilometers Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for a second consecutive day on Wednesday due to over 30 landslides and mudslides triggered by the heavy rains in the Ramban-Udhampur sector, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded, officials said.

    ALSO READ | Climate change a factor in ‘unprecedented’ South Asia floods, says Scientists

    The traffic on Mughal Road, an alternative link connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district, was also suspended due to landslides en route, they said.

    Besides Doda, the deputy commissioners of Ramban and Kishtwar districts have also ordered the closure of all educational institutions up to higher secondary level including private schools for the day, an official said.

    “All schools across Ramban district, including higher secondary schools, shall remain closed today in view of the heavy rainfall and overflowing of nallahs and mudslides at several locations,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mussarat Islam said in a tweet. Officials said one kutcha house in Dachhan collapsed but all its occupants were safe.

    “As a part of advisory in view of hostile weather conditions and reports submitted by tehsildars, I have directed CEO Kishtwar to close all educational institutions in District Kishtwar today. We will assess the situation later in the day for further decision,” said District Development Commissioner Kishtwar Ashok Sharma.

    “As of now, there is no report of any damage from any part of the district,” the DDC said. The deputy commissioners of these districts have issued advisories asking people to remain indoors in view of the flood-like situation developed in the mountainous belts.

    According to a weather office forecast, heavy rain is predicted in Kishtwar district which may cause temporary disruption of air and surface traffic mainly on the national highway and hilly roads, besides land landslides and shooting stones in vulnerable spots of the highway, according to the advisory issued by the district administration.

    “District police Kishtwar has established a help desk and people are advised to stay at home and not to venture out of their home unnecessarily,” it said. The district administrations have also issued helpline numbers in case of any emergency.

  • Monsoon to hit Kerala on May 27, five days early: IMD

    Weather scientists attribute the early onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala to influence of the remnants of cyclone Asani that triggered the cross-equatorial flow, a key factor for the seasonal rain

  • Asani intensifies into severe cyclonic storm, Odisha, Bengal on alert

    By PTI

    KOLKATA?BHUBANESWAR: Cyclone Asani, formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening as it moved northwestwards in the direction of north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts, the Met department said.

    The severe cyclone, on reaching westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts on Tuesday, is very likely to recurve north-northeast wards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast, it said.

    The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to lose some steam thereafter and turn into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and further into a deep depression on Thursday, the Met department said in its forecast of Asani’s track and intensity.

    Stating that the system will not make landfall either in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutunjay Mohaptra said the cyclone will move parallel to the east coast and cause rainfall from Tuesday evening.

    Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said the state government has made adequate arrangement for rescue operations. “We do not see any big danger in the state as the system will pass around 100 kilometer off the coast near Puri,” he said.

    However, rescue teams of NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services are on standby for any eventuality, he said. A unit of NDRF has been deployed in Balasore and a unit of ODDRAF was sent to Ganjam district.

    ODRAF teams are also on standby in Krushna Prasad, Satpada, Puri and Astarang block in Puri district, and Jagatsinghpur, Mahakalpada and Rajnagar in Kendrapara, and Bhadrak.

    All the districts have been put on alert and collectors have been empowered to undertake evacuation, keeping in view the local situation, Jena said.

    Director-General of Odisha’s Fire Services SK Upadhaya said all the 339 fire stations have been put on alert. “Rainfall activities will commence in the coastal districts from Tuesday evening under the impact of the cyclone,” said Umashankar Das, senior scientist at Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.

    Heavy rainfall is very likely in some areas of Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri on Tuesday. The next day, heavy rainfall may happen in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack.

    Heavy rainfall is very likely in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore on Thursday.

    The cyclone is likely to bring in its wake light to moderate rainfall over Gangetic West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday with heavy downpour at one or two places in the coastal districts of the state, the weather office said.

    Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said disaster management teams have been put on alert following the weather forecast.

    Taking lessons from the devastating effects of Amphan super cyclone in May 2020, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is taking all measures such as keeping cranes, electric saws and earthmovers on standby to clear blockades caused by fallen trees and other debris.

    The administrations of Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas are keeping cyclone shelters, schools and other pucca structures ready if evacuation is needed, besides arranging dry food and necessary medicines, a state government official said.

    The weather office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and along and off West Bengal and Odisha coasts from Tuesday till further notice.

    The system developed from a cyclonic circulation that formed over the South Andaman Sea on May 4 and gradually intensified into a low-pressure area and then into depression and deep depression as it moved northwestwards, leading to the formation of cyclonic storm Asani.

    The system lay 880 km south-southeast of Puri at 5.30 pm, it said.

  • IMD pegs new all-India rainfall normal at 87 cm 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The weather office on Thursday reduced the benchmark to define normal Southwest monsoon rainfall to 868.6 mm from the previous 880.6 mm on the basis of availability of fresh data from its network of rain guages across the country.

    The new all-India rainfall normal has been calculated on the basis of rainfall data over a 50-year period from 1971-2020 and will be used as the benchmark to measure rainfall in the country.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues weather forecasts and summaries in terms of departures from the normal, which is a long period average (LPA) of rainfall received over a 50-year period.

    The ‘normal’ rainfall or the LPA is updated every 10 years. The last update of the LPA was delayed and done only in 2018.

    Till then the weather office used the LPA of 1951-2001, which was 89 cm, as the benchmark to measure rainfall.

    IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the definition of the LPA has to be updated after every decade, as per the international practice.

    “We take into consideration various aspects. One of them is the climate variability that changes over the period of time. Second, the number of rain gauge stations increases over the period of time giving us more data that is uniformly distributed. So, it (forecast) becomes more realistic and also caters to requirements of smaller regions and specific locations,” he said.

    The previous update had taken place in 2019, after a delay of seven years as gathering of data and analysing it took time, he said.

    “We have been able to update the new normals within two years as we now have introduced automated processes of data reception, data delegation and calibration of instruments,” Mohapatra said.

    He said the new rainfall normal has been computed using rainfall data from 4,132 rain gauge stations well distributed over the country representing 703 districts of India.

    Mohapatra attributed the gradual decrease in the average rainfall to natural multi-decadal epochal variability of dry and wet epochs of all India rainfall. “Presently the south-west monsoon is passing through a dry epoch which started in the decade of 1971-80,” he said.

    According to Mohapatra, the decadal average of all India south-west monsoon rainfall for the 2011-20 decade is minus 3.8 per cent from the long-term mean.

    “The next decade i.e. 2021-30 will come closer to normal and the south-west monsoon is likely to enter into the wet epoch from the decade of 2031-40,” he said.

    The new all India annual rainfall normal, based on the 1971-2021 data, has been fixed at 1160.1 mm compared to the earlier normal of 1176.9 mm based on the 1961-2010 data.

    Southwest monsoon rainfall, spread across the months of June-September, contributes 74.9 per cent to the annual rainfall, while the pre-monsoon rains – March-April-May – contributes 11.3 per cent.

    Post monsoon rainfall – October, November, December – contributes 10.4 per cent to the annual rainfall, while winter rains in January and February contribute 3.4 per cent to the yearly rainfall.

    The new rainfall normal has been computed using rainfall data 4132 raingauge stations distributed across 703 districts of the country.