At least 28 people have died due to rain-related incidents across India on Sunday after heavy rains lashed north and northwest parts of the country. The rains have resulted in landslides, traffic chaosand house collapses, as well as a dam breach which inundated several villages in Haryana.
India's rainfall surplus remains at 7 per cent for the sixth consecutive day, with 27 states experiencing normal or excess rainfall. However, a quarter of the country still faces deficient conditions, with Bihar and several northeastern states among the worst affected.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted rainfall activities across various regions, including cyclonic circulations over Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and North India.
IMD Forecast
The IMD has issued an 'orange' warning for heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in isolated places across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, and North East India. Many parts of the country have already received above-normal rainfall this monsoon season.
Rainfall In Delhi
Heavy rains lashed central, south, southwest and east Delhi too, leading to waterlogging and traffic snarls on several road stretches. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 2.9 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
The minimum temperature was 26 degrees Celsius, with a maximum expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius. The Delhi Traffic Police reported traffic disruptions on Rohtak Road and Najafgarh Firni Road due to potholes and waterlogging. Gurugram recorded 70 mm of rainfall during the day.
Officials said on Sunday a seven-year-old boy drowned in a waterlogged park in Rohini's Sector 20 the previous evening.
Floods In Himachal Pradesh
Three girls were killed and one person was missing in Himachal Pradesh where heavy rains have caused landslides and flash floods. Officials said 288 roads were closed, 458 power and 48 water supply schemes are also affected. Reports of damage have emerged from Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, and Sirmaur districts.
The regional Met office has also issued an 'orange' alert, warning for heavy to very rainfall at isolated places in five districts of Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning.
IMD Issues Alerts For Kerala
The India Meteorological Department has sounded an 'orange' alert for several districts in Kerala, predicting very heavy rainfall in the coming days.
The alert has been issued for Palakkad and Malappuram on Sunday, and for Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, and Malappuram on August 12 and 13. A 'yellow' alert has been issued for heavy rain throughout the state till August 16.
Rajasthan Observes 16 Deaths Over 2 Days Due To Heavy Rains
Sunday was the second straight day of heavy rains in the region with Rajasthan being the worst hit as the state reported 16 deaths over two days -- two on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. Its Karauli district recorded "exceptionally heavy rainfall" of 38 cm.
Officials in Rajasthan's Jaipur said the torrential rains created a flood-like situation in Karauli and Hinduan. Jaipur saw waterlogging at several places. Five people were swept away at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur and a rescue operation has been launched.
Till 5.30 pm on Sunday, Jaipur recorded 63.2 mm rainfall, Alwar 14.2, Mount Abu and Sikar 9 mm each and Fatehpur 6.5 mm.
Flood, Deaths In Punjab And Haryana
In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, nine people including eight members of a family died and two others went missing after their vehicle got swept away on Sunday by the flooded Jaijon Choe, a seasonal rivulet.
Eleven members of the family, along with a driver, were travelling in the SUV from Dehra near Mehatpur in Una district of Himachal Pradesh to Mehrowal village in Punjab's SBS Nagar district to attend a wedding, police officials said.
As they were crossing the Jaijon Choe, which was in spate due to heavy rain, their vehicle got swept away, the police said.
Some locals had even warned the driver not to cross the choe because of strong water current in the rivulet but he ignored it and moved ahead, said police. Locals managed to rescue one occupant. A video of the incident showed that the vehicle was stuck in the flooded rivulet.
Rains lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana also. Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar and Ambala were among the places that received rainfall.
Pathankot received 82 mm of rainfall, Gurdaspur 68.8 mm and Amritsar 57.6 mm in the last 24 hours which ended at 8:30 am, a meteorological department report said.
Several villages in Haryana's Yamunanagar district were inundated following a breach in the embankment of Som river.
The affected villages are Kanuwala, Bamnoli, Malikpur Bangar, Lalahadi and Manakpur of Yamunanagar district. Around 3-4 feet deep water entered Khanuwala village, forcing many residents to move to safer places.
Agricultural fields at many places were submerged and officials said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been called in.
