Rain, floods claim 8 lives in North, WB

Four people  died in heavy rain that pounded many parts of north India triggering landslides and roadblocks, while four more died in West Bengal in the receding floods.

Delhi had overcast skies with the temperature settling at a cosy 31.6 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season’s normal, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27 degrees Celsius, which is within the normal range.

Moderate to heavy rains lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh triggering landslides and uprooting trees. A bridge along with a bike was washed away in a cloudburst at Mayar in Lahaul and Spiti district.

One person was killed and two injured in separate incidents, while landslides blocked 100 roads, 78 of them in Shimla alone.

The toll in the floods in West Bengal, where 14 districts were affected, rose to 50 with four more persons losing their lives. The situation at Ghatal in West Midnapore district and Dhaniakhali in Hooghly district continued to be critical.

An officer said lessening rain and controlled release of water from barrages helped the flood water to recede.

In Jammu & Kashmir, three persons, including a seven-year-old boy, were killed and one injured in the flash floods triggered by heavy rain. The deluge damaged a bridge on cross-LoC road in Chakan-Da-Bagh area of Poonch district.

Heavy rain alert has been issued in Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand in the next 48 hours, with the likelihood of landslides and traffic snarls in the hills and inundation in the low-lying areas.

The Met department has said one or two places in north Odisha are likely to experience heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and lightning in the next 48 hours.

Rain lashed several parts of Haryana and Punjab leading to a fall in mercury by a few notches.
Chandigarh witnessed heavy rain this morning. The MeT department issued heavy rain alert for isolated places in the two states.