Heavy rain alert in 5 Uttarakhand districts, Himachal today, toll remains 88
The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday issued an ‘orange alert’ for heavy to very heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from August 22-24 and a ‘yellow alert’ for heavy rain on August 21 (today).
The hill states have seen extensive devastation and deaths in the last few months due to incessant rainfall. The death toll in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand rose to 88 on Saturday with the recovery of another body from the debris of a collapsed temple in Shimla.
ORANGE ALERT IN HIMACHAL FROM AUGUST 22-24
The weather department has issued an orange alert in Himachal for the next two days even as the monsoon remained subdued in the state.
Some parts of the state witnessed light rain on Sunday.
The weather body has also warned of a moderate risk of flash floods in catchment areas of the Chamba and Mandi districts and predicted a wet spell till August 26.
Heavy rain can result in landslides, flash floods and increased water levels in rivers and drains, besides causing damage to standing crops, fruit plants and young seedlings, the weather office said.
5 UTTARAKHAND DISTRICTS ON ALERT
Uttarakhand has been reeling from incessant rains that have triggered landslides and flash floods in many places.
The Weather Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert in five districts of Uttarakhand, including Dehradun, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Bageshwar.
The Weather Department has issued an orange alert for these districts for today and tomorrow. There is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall in other districts too, according to the weather body.
HEAVY RAIN LASHES CHANDIGARH
Heavy rain lashed Chandigarh and its surrounding areas on Sunday, leading to the mercury dropping a few notches, the weather office said.
The rain spell brought relief to people from the sultry conditions. Mohali in Punjab and Panchkula in Haryana — Chandigarh’s adjoining towns — were also lashed by rain.
According to the met office, more rain has been forecast in Punjab and Haryana during the next two days.