Weather Updates: Monsoon fury on Friday as well continued to show its work in several states across India, with several people losing their lives in the northern part of the nation. Meanwhile, efforts to rescue the stranded pilgrims from the Kedarnath Yatra route with the help of the Centre were underway. The death toll in Wayanad landslides has risen to 210, while 264 others are injured.
Here are the top weather news from Friday, August 2:
Wayanad Landslides: Death Toll Climbs To 210, Injured Persons Number At 264
Heavy Rains In Himachal Pradesh
Rescue Ops Continued To Move Stranded Pilgrims On Kedarnath Route To Safer Places In Uttarakhand
Heavy Downpour In South Bengal, More Rains Likely
Thunderstorms Forecast In Andhra Pradesh From August 2 To 6
Heavy Rainfall Likely To Continue In Several Parts Of Rajasthan
The rescue operations in landslide-hit Wayanad to pull out the survivors of the devastating landslides concluded on Thursday night. According to the officials, the focus is now on retrieving bodies.
The state government has announced the death toll to be 190. However, the rescuers asserted that the figure is over 200 and is likely to increase.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday directed Chief Secretary V Venu to withdraw a controversial note issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), which restrained science and technology institutions in the state from sharing their opinions and study reports with the media regarding the recent deadly landslides in Wayanad.
In a statement on Thursday night, Vijayan said the news that the SDMA had directed scientific institutions and scientists not to visit the disaster-affected Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad and not to express their opinions was misleading.
Heavy rains killed at least fourteen people while 10 more were injured in heavy overnight rains that triggered flooding and a house collapse as several rivers swelled in Uttarakhand, officials said here on Thursday.
In light of the current situation, the state authorities halted the Kedarnath Yatra as the heavy downpour triggered landslides at many places. The trek route remains blocked by boulders at Ghoraparav, Lincholi, Badi Lincholi and Bhimbali, the officials added.
Three people including a six-year-old girl drowned after rainwater gushed into the basement of their house in Vishwakarma area here early Thursday morning, officials said.
Three people, including a woman, riding on a motorcycle on a bridge were swept away by the overflowing Kalisindh river in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district at around 4 pm on Thursday.
Kamal Shah (23), Pooja Saini (19) and her niece Purvi Saini drowned in rainwater that gushed into the basement of their house in Vishwakarma area in Jaipur.
Six weather stations across Delhi recorded over 100 mm of rain in a single day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday, categorising it as an "extremely intense spell".
During a press conference, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, clarified that the intense rain witnessed in the city was not a cloudburst.
It has been told that the city's primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded 107 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Other stations, which also received significant rainfall, included Mayur Vihar (147 mm), Najafgarh and Ridge (113 mm), Lodi Road (106 mm) and Delhi University (104 mm).
Chief Secretary of Kerala issues clarification on the note issued by the Principal Secretary, Disaster Management to the Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, regarding exercising restraint in expressing opinions related to the landslide in Wayanad.
Light rain lashed parts of the national capital on Friday, a day after 'extremely intense spell' when six weather station of Delhi recorded over 100 mm of rain in a single day.
Uttarakhand SDRF continued to carry out operation overnight to rescue pilgrims who were stranded on the Kedarnath Yatra route due to cloudburst, heavy rains in the region. At least 14 people died while 10 others sustained injuries in Uttarakhand on Thursday.
After couple of days of heavy rains wreaking havoc in the national capital city leading to severe waterlogging, traffic snarls and power cuts, Delhi on Friday witnessed clear skies in the morning.
More than 300 families in Naga Village of North Sikkim's Mangan district were evacuated after a few buildings collapsed in the area. The land in the village is sinking towards Teesta River causing fear among villagers.
"Relocation of the affected people is necessary at the moment as well as the restoration of the border road... It has been 11 months (since glacial lake outburst flood in 2023) and there's no improvement. The Government of India should also take up this matter seriously as this is a border road. It does not only concern the general public, but also is a threat of national security," says Nim Tshering Lepcha, a victim and a Local Representative of the Naga Village.
Braving rains and adverse terrain, 40 teams of rescuers began search operations in landslide-hit Wayanad district on the fourth day on Friday. The search operationsare being conducted in six zones of the landslides-hit areas including Attamala and Aaranmala (first), Mundakkai (second), Punchirimattam (third), Vellarimala village (fourth), GVHSS Vellarimala (fifth), and riverbank (sixth).
In light of heavy rain predictions, schools, colleges and tuition centers across seven districts of Kerala including Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasragod remain closed today.
In a tireless overnight search and rescue operation by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), several stranded pilgrims were rescued in cloudburst-hit Kedarnath.
According to Kerala Health Minister Veena George, the death toll in the recent Wayanad landslide has mounted to 308. Search and rescue operations underway at landslide-affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala in Wayanad.
A flood-like situation has been reported in the low-lying areas of Salem after water was released from Mettur Dam following heavy rain in catchment area of Cauvery river.
Rescue operations are underway in Himachal Pradesh's Rampur. Yesterday, an incident of cloudburst in Rampur left 4 people dead and 49 missing.
The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Chinook and MI17 helicopters on Friday joined the rescue operations in Uttarakhand to evacuate over 500 pilgrims stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, with 10 of them being airlifted in the first round.
Ten pilgrims were airlifted by MI17 helicopter on Friday morning and dropped at Gauchar airstrip, officials here said.
The Indian Army on Friday found 4 alive individuals- two females and two males- who were stranded in Padavetti Kunnu, Wayanad. The casualty operation was coordinated and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) was launched to facilitate the rescue.
One of the rescued females is experiencing difficulties with her leg and is receiving necessary medical attention: Indian Army
Heavy downpour lashed parts of southern West Bengal as an active monsoon is likely to bring more rain in some districts of the region till Saturday, the Met office said. Bardhaman, Panagarh and Sriniketan recorded nearly 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Friday, it said.
Light to moderate rain is likely in Kolkata, which received 46 mm of rainfall during the same period. Bardhaman and Sriniketan received the maximum rainfall at 192 mm each and were closely followed by Panagarh at 186 mm, the Met office data said.
Taking a stock of the ongoing rescue operations, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "Yesterday, I visited Jakhnali village, where three people died, and inspected the rescue and relief work. I also visited Guptkashi and Lincholi and met the stranded pilgrims. So far, 5,000 people have been successfully rescued. Rescue operations will continue throughout the day today. We had requested the PMO to send an Mi helicopter, which has been sent here. If the weather permits, all the Kedarnath yatris will be evacuated to safer places by today evening."
On rescue operations for the people stuck in Kedarnath and adjoining areas, Rudraprayag SDM Ashish Ghildiyal says, "Here on Gauchar Airstrip, Chinook and Mi-17 of Indian airforce landed yesterday. Mi-17 took a flight yesterday but since the weather was not good, the mission was aborted. From this morning, we have rescued 15 people with the help of Mi-17. NDRF personnel have also been airlifted... In Kedarnath, the weather isn't suitable for flight... Almost 300 people are stuck there and NDRF and SDRF are deployed there as per requirement, and the safest route is being used to rescue people"
201 people are dead while 264 others have sustained injuries, said Kerala Health Department on Saturday. The rescue workers yesterday predicted that the final numbers would be higher. Earlier, ANI had reported 308 deaths.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday deployed C-130J Super Hercules and specialised drone to aid the ongoing relief and rescue operations in landslide-hit Wayanad.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday received a briefing from the District Administration in the Forest Office at Chooramala, Meppadi.
In view of heavy rains in Kedarghati, on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's request, the work of rescuing the stranded pilgrims from the extreme Kedarnath Yatra route in Kedarghati by MI-17 and Chinook helicopters provided by the Centre and taking the passengers to a safe place is underway.
By 12 noon on Friday, about 430 passengers have been rescued by airlifting from Lyncholi and Bhimbali. At the same time, about 700 passengers have been successfully rescued between Gaurikund-Sonprayag.
Additionally, the injured pilgrims are being treated by the NDRF and Health Department.
Authorities on Friday said that the unidentified bodies of those who lost their lives in the Wayanad landslides will be buried in public graveyards in the district.
The facilities for the burial have been arranged in graveyards at various locations including Kalpetta municipality, Vythiri, Muttil, Kaniyambatta, Padinjathara, Thondarnad, Edavaka and Mullankolly Grama Panchayats, an official statement said.
The Uttarakhand Congress on Friday halted its Kedarnath Dham Pratishtha Raksha Yatra amid the havoc in Kedarnath valley after heavy rain.
The yatra that began on July 24 from Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to protest against the proposed construction of a replica of Kedarnath in Delhi, was to conclude as per its original schedule on August 3 at the Himalayan temple.
The Wayanad district administration said that the death toll in the devastating landslides in the hilly district, now stands at 205.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday visited and inspected the landslide area of Srimangala Kutta in Ponnampet taluk in the district and held discussions with officials and locals here.
More than 20 families have lost their homes due to the collapse of the hill during the last week of July.
According to officials, the chief minister directed immediate completion of the suspension bridge construction, repair work, and road construction.
According to news agency PTI, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas has confirmed 210 deaths in Wayanad landslides that took place in the early hours of July 30.
Visuals from the Punchiri Mattam village affected by landslide in Kerala's Wayanad. The death toll, as per Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, stands at 210.
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, visited landslide-hit Mundakkai and Punchiri Mattam village in Wayanad.
Rescuers have been using an advanced radar system to conduct search operations in the landslide-hit Wayanad and have detected a signal indicating breathing, possibly by a human or animal.
An official involved in the operation said that a "blue signal" was received on the radar while searching an area where a house was previously located in the severely affected Mundakkai village.
"There is a consistent signal of breathing," the officer told reporters.
Pilgrims on the Kedarnath trek route crossed the landslide hit Jungle Chatti area with the help of ropes and NDRF personnel to reach Gaurikund.
Kerala General Education Minister, V Sivankutty, on Friday said at least 49 children have either been missing or dead in the devastating landslides that hit Wayanad district three days ago.
"As per the reports, 49 children are either dead or missing. The Vellarimala GHSS has been completely destroyed. The GLPS Mundakkai has been partially damaged. Three other schools have also suffered minor damage," he said.
The meteorological office on Friday issued a "yellow alert" for heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning in isolated places in ten districts in Himachal Pradesh till August 6.
It also cautioned of the possibility of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas and damage to plantations and standing crops and houses due to strong winds, and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
