Rain wreaks havoc in North, North-East

Death toll in states in northern and north-eastern India crossed 80 as heavy rain continued to lash them on Thursday. While 25 deaths were confirmed in Gujarat alone, two persons died in Odisha and the toll in Uttar Pradesh touched 55 with five more casualties reported from various parts during the day.

Overflowing dam
The Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat was overflowing on Thursday, thanks to heavy downpour in the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. Its water level rose to 121.94 metres, which is more than its current height of 121.92 metres.An executive engineer at the Kevadiya Colony at the foot of the dam said the overflowing generally happens in September but this year, it occurred two months before because of heavy rain in the upstream. The good news for the state is that the overflowing Sardar Sarovar Dam would ensure better irrigation in various parts of the state.

Bordering districts of Banaskantha and Kutch were the worst affected by the rain with 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) working in full force to rescue the distressed. The army, Border Security Force and Indian Air Force (IAF) also swung into action. Mobile medical teams were also in action.

In Ahmedabad, the administration evacuated over 2,000 people from low-lying areas along the Sabarmati River, which received 1.8 lakh cusec of water from the upstream Dharoi Dam. The local administration was put on high alert as the water-level rose above the danger mark late on Thursday night.

4 lakh hit in Odisha
Five districts in Odisha, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj in the north and Jajpur in the coastal belt were badly affected by floods. Of the 4 lakh people hit in these districts, 1.56 lakh were in Bhadrak alone, said official sources.

The administration has evacuated 2,238 people from villages marooned in the affected districts. Over 1,050 people have been rescued from Mayurbhanj district. The rescued people have been given shelter in temporary camps.

The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and NDRF personnel have been deployed for the rescue operations.

The local Met office has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in the next two days because of a depression on the Bay of Bengal which has turned into a severe cyclonic storm.

UP rivers in spate
Overflowing water of Ken and Betwa rivers inundated over 50 villages in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, reports said. The Agra-Mumbai highway has also been closed at several places because of the floodwater.  The Ganga and Yamuna rivers were also in spate at Allahabad, forcing several people flee their homes for safer places.

Heavy rain in the neighbouring Uttarakhand caused the rise in the water levels of Ganga and Yamuna, it was said.

Flash floods in Manipur
Flash floods caused by incessant rainfall for the past two days have wreaked havoc in Manipur. Pallel in Thoubal district and entire Chandel district were badly affected.

According to the government, the Sengmai (Sengvai) River was overflowing, causing flood at Pallel in Thoubal District and some adjoining villages of Chandel district since Wednesday evening. The water levels of the Sengmai and Chapki rivers were also rising