Rain updates: Toll in Himachal Pradesh rises to 85, orange alert issued in Delhi

At least 85 persons have died in rain-related incidents since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh on June 20, ANI quoted the State Disaster Management Authority as saying on Thursday.

Thirty-four persons were missing and 129 have been injured, India Today reported.

Of the total, 54 deaths were caused due to flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts, while 31 persons were killed in road accidents, ANI reported. In the past 24 hours, 204 roads in the state were blocked, including the National Highway connecting Mandi to Dharampur via Kotli

Mandi district remained the worst-affected, where more than 130 roads were blocked. The district also reported major power outages and that water supply systems were damaged, the news agency reported.

“All emergency services are on alert,” unidentified officials at the State Emergency Operation Centre told ANI. “Restoration of road access, electricity, and water supply is ongoing.”

The State Disaster Management Authority appealed to the public to avoid travelling on vulnerable routes, especially in high-altitude and landslide-prone areas, as more rain was predicted in the coming days.

As per the latest forecast by the Regional Meteorological Department in Shimla, an orange alert has been issued for Hamirpur, Mandi and Solan with light to moderate rain likely in several places on Thursday, India Today reported. Intense spells were also expected in isolated places in the region.

An orange alert is issued when a rainfall range between 115.6 mm and 204.4 mm is expected in one day. The alert requires authorities to “be prepared” in view of an extreme weather event.

The department also stated that light to moderate rain with light thunderstorms and lightning was likely in Shimla, Chamba, Sirmaur, Kangra, Kullu, Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Una and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

In neighbouring Uttarakhand, heavy rainfall has led to landslides, lightning and widespread damage in several districts, India Today reported.

Twenty-two persons have died and 11 injured in rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of the monsoon. Over 140 houses have been damaged and several families displaced in the period due to the weather. More than 130 roads, including highways, remain blocked.

The India Meteorological Department has issued heavy rain and lightning alerts between July 10 and July 11 in Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Nainital and Bageshwar.

Heavy rain lashes Delhi, orange alert issued

In Delhi, the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert on Thursday as heavy rainfall continued to lash parts of the National Capital Region, causing severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions.

Several areas also experienced disruptions in power supply, The Hindu reported.

The National Capital Region recorded significant rainfall between 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Wednesday. In Gurugram, 133 mm of rainfall was recorded over 12 hours till Thursday morning, The Hindu reported.

In view of the weather, the Gurugram administration issued an advisory for corporate offices and private institutions to allow their employees to work from home, Indian Today reported.

North east rains

Amid incessant rains, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur have reported flooding, India Today reported. The Indian Army has launched relief operations in the states.

In Nagaland’s Dimapur district, military assistance was requisitioned in the severely affected Singrijan Colony. In Assam’s Golaghat, the Dhansiri river had breached danger levels, which prompted continued monitoring by the Army even after the waters receded.

Heavy rainfall has also led to flooding in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, The Indian Express reported. The overflowing Lanva river led to deluge in several villages between Pearsonmun and Mualkoi. Flooding was also reported in Imphal West and Bishnupur districts due to the overflowing Nambol river.

As of Thursday, 40 relief columns had been deployed, India Today reported. At least 3,820 persons were rescued, 1,361 food packets distributed and medical aid provided to 2,095 persons in the two districts.