Flood Situation Alarming In Odisha, Death Toll Rises To 32 In Himachal After Rain Fury

Heavy rain continued in several parts of Madhya Pradesh for the third consecutive day on Monday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain have also caused multiple deaths in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

On Monday, hundreds of villages remained submerged in water as stranded residents were rescued by the state administration in Odisha. Meanwhile, schools in some areas including Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Jabalpur remained closed today due to torrential rain.

Here’s a quick recap of floods, landslides and other weather-related incidents from across the country.

ODISHA
Floods have affected nearly eight lakh people and displaced thousands from their homes in Odisha, with rain disrupting electricity and water supply and damaging road infrastructure. The state has evacuated 120,000 people so far from the affected areas.

However, the flood situation remained the worst in northern districts as swollen Subarnekha river inundated low-lying areas and left people in over 100 villages marooned.

Authorities in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts have launched a massive evacuation drive in low-lying areas as water in Subarnarekha and Baitarani the two major rivers flowing through the region breached the danger mark at many places.

Apart from the Subarnarekha river, Balasore district is also affected by the flood waters of river Budhabalang and Jalaka.

“Nearly 156 villages in 83 gram panchayats in Balasore district have been hit by the flood. The administration has evacuated 40,000 people by Monday noon, and they are housed in 227 temporary shelters. The process is still underway,” Balasore District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde told PTI.

An IMD bulletin has forecast heavy rain in northern Odisha districts on Tuesday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH
The death toll in flash floods and landslides triggered by rain in Himachal Pradesh since Friday night has risen to 32. Six people who went missing are still untraceble. As many as 12 people were injured in the calamity. Mandi district remains the worst affected, followed by Kangra and Chamba.

After visiting the flash flood and landslide-hit areas in the Mandi district, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

A village chief from Mandi district, who alerted people over the landslide situation, died along with seven from his family in a landslide. The chief minister said their lives could not be saved although rescue teams had left for the village after getting information about the landslide.

UTTARAKHAND
Flash floods and landslides brought on by a series of cloudbursts have upended normal life across several districts of the hill state. Rivers breached banks, washed away bridges, and threw mud and water inside houses, forcing the evacuation in multiple villages. As the gushing waters threatened more damage, a number of roads were blocked for traffic.

Five people are still missing in Gwad village of Tehri district and seven in Maldevta and Raipur areas of Dehradun, according to state officials.

MADHYA PRADESH
Heavy rains continued in many parts of Madhya Pradesh for the third day on Monday. Rain coupled with wind uprooted many trees along roadsides in Bhopal, and also caused power supply disruptions in many areas.

Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Sagar and Gwalior divisions will receive heavy rain till late night due to a depression over central parts of MP.

The depression is likely to move westwards (towards Guna in MP and Rajasthan), thereby reducing rain activity in MP from tomorrow.

RAJASTHAN
Extremely heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours has created a flood-like situation in parts of Rajasthan’s Kota and nearby areas.

Low-lying areas have been submerged under water owing to rainfall and water released from the barrage in Kota. About 2.76 lakh cusec water has been released from the barrage so far.

According to the IMD, extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in isolated areas in Kota and Jhalawar districts. Apart from Kota and Jhalawar, many areas in Bundi, Baran, Chittorgarh, Sawaimadhopur, Dausa and Karauli also recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall.

JHARKHAND
In Jharkhand’s Kolhan division comprising Seraikela-Kharswan and East and West Singhbhum districts, over 2,500 people affected by the flood-like situation were shifted to safer places since Saturday.

Much damage has been caused by incessant rain in the last two days and the rise in water level of Kharkhai and Swarnarekha rivers jointly with East Singhbhum district administration.

The residents of some of the areas affected by flood water, including those at Shastri Nagar and Greenpark, have been evacuated from their residences.

UTTAR PRADESH
Rising water level in the river Ganga has submerged major ghats in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, leading to difficulties in performing puja and other religious events.

The district administration said as Harish Chandra Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat have been inundated, last rites are now being carried out at relatively higher places.

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places over south Uttar Pradesh on Monday. During the next 24 hours, squally winds reaching 25-35 kmph gusting to 45 kmph could bring damage to loose and unsecured structures.