Heavy rain alert in 5 states, river water level rises in Jharkhand, Bengal

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat,.

The Konkan region, Goa, and central Maharashtra on Sunday, saying that the states and the region would receive “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” for coming few days. On the other hand, river water levels are rising in Pune, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have advised residents to take the necessary precautions.

Speaking with news agency ANI, IMD scientist Dr. Naresh Kumar said, “The monsoon is in its active phase. There is a deep depression in North East MP. There is low pressure in southwest Rajasthan. We expect extremely heavy rainfall in western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat, the Konkan region, Goa, and central Maharashtra, for which we have also issued a red alert. There will be no rain in Delhi-NCR in the next two days.”

Kerala, coastal Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are expected to witness heavy rain in the coming days, he stated.

“When the monsoon trough comes to its near position, light to moderate rainfall is expected in Delhi,” he added.

On Monday, the National Defense Response Force rescued seven people who were stranded in Hinglaj village in Gujarat’s Valsad district in wake of the heavy rain and high tide in the Auranga river. According to the official, the stranded people were fishermen.

In light of the significant water discharge from the Khadakwasla, Mulshi, Pavana, and other dams in the Pune region, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed authorities to remain vigilant. He emphasised the importance of relocating residents from hazardous areas to safer locations with the support of the NDRF, SDRF, and the Army, if necessary.

According to officials from Maharashtra’s irrigation department, 35,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Khadakwasla dam due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas over the past two weeks. The ghat section of Pune district has experienced particularly intense rainfall in the last two days.

In response to the heavy downpours and water discharge from the Khadakwasla dam, army personnel have been deployed to assist in an inundated residential area in Pune, Maharashtra, officials stated.
On Sunday, heavy rains swept across western and central India, while a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir forced the closure of the vital Srinagar-Leh national highway. This disruption has severed the Kashmir Valley’s connection to Ladakh and rendered the Baltal base camp for the Amarnath Yatra inaccessible.

The recent landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad and Himachal Pradesh have resulted in a tragic loss of life, with the death toll rising to 358 and 13, respectively. In addition, over 370 individuals, including pilgrims, who were stranded along the rain-damaged trek route to Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath, have been successfully evacuated.
In the wake of the rising water level of the Godavari River due to heavy rains, the Nashik district administration has urged people to stay alert. An official stated that a total of 4,000 cusecs of water were released from the Gangapur dam, leading to a spike in the water level of the Godavari.

In Jammu and Kashmir, several buildings were damaged, and the Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed following a cloudburst in the Ganderbal district that triggered a flash flood. The closure of the highway has effectively isolated the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh, and the Baltal base camp for the Amarnath Yatra has also become inaccessible.

In Jharkhand, heavy rainfall has led to the swelling of several rivers, prompting the East Singhbhum district administration to issue an alert for residents in low-lying areas. This precautionary measure aims to ensure the safety and preparedness of those potentially affected by rising water levels.

All districts of West Bengal witnessed widespread rain, with heavy showers being reported in parts of Birbhum. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released 1.2 lakh cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams along the Jharkhand-West Bengal border on Sunday morning, following a significant discharge from the Tenughat dam upstream. This follows the release of 90,000 cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams on Saturday.