Monsoon rains lash Delhi, other states; toll rises in AP, UKD
New Delhi, Jul 2 (PTI) Heavy rains lashed several parts of India as monsoon made its entry into Delhi and other states today even as the toll in a landslide in Arunachal Pradesh rose to 10 while ten rivers in Uttarkhand were in spate a day after it was hit by a cloudburst which has claimed at least 15 lives.
The rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh, which was suspended last evening, resumed at the break of the dawn and five more bodies were recovered, West Kameng SP A Koan said.
The bodies extricated from the debris were of Pinky Boro (40), Miali Chetry (40), Niky Boro (10), Juala Chetry (10) and 9-month-old Angel Lenua, the SP said.
The landslide at Bhalukpong in West Kameng district was triggered by torrential rain, which had killed five people and injured four others yesterday.
In Uttarakhand too, the tragedy continued with the recovery of two more bodies, pushing the death toll in the rain-hit state to 15 today while about ten rivers and rivulets were in spate across the state and traffic disrupted on several routes due to landslides.
15 people are still missing after the cloudbursts in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts and it is feared that the toll may rise.
Rain-related casualties were reported in Uttar Pradesh too as at least 11 people, including three minors, were killed in in different parts of the state in last two days due to lightning strike and wall or house collapse.
In Delhi, monsoon showers lashed the city, two days after its scheduled arrival, bringing cheer and much-needed respite to residents from muggy weather.
“The South-West Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of western Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, most parts of Haryana, entire Chandigarh and Delhi and Punjab and some parts of eastern Rajasthan,” a senior official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The national capital recorded 23.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 AM while weather stations at Lodhi Road, Palam, Ridge and Ayanagar received 19.6 mm, 3.8 mm, 12 mm and 18.7 mm rainfall.
Between 8.30 AM and 5.30 PM, Ridge recorded 0.2 mm rainfall while traces of rain was recorded in Ayanagar, a Delhi Met Department official said.
There was a steep fall in mercury as the maximum temperature settled at 30.2 degrees Celsius, seven notches below the season’s average while the minimum temperature settled at 24.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal, the official said.
The humidity level oscillated between 74 and 97 per cent.
“The skies will be partly cloudy. There is likelihood of rain accompanied by thunderstorm for tomorrow. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle at around 30 and 24 degrees Celsius,” the weatherman said.
Several parts of Rajasthan, Odisha and Punjab, among other states, also received heavy rainfall. .
