13 killed in J&K flash floods; rain pounds many regions

Nearly two lakh people still affected in 13 districts in Assam

On a day when rain pounded several parts of the country, 13  people fell victim to a cloudburst that triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir. Nearly 11 were injured. Despite an improvement in the flood situation in Assam, nearly two lakh people remain affected in 13 districts.

Flash floods wreaked havoc in Thathri town of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, inundating vast areas along the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway and washing away half a dozen houses.

Police officers said 13 people were dead and the toll is likely to rise as several are feared trapped in the debris. They managed to rescue only 11. Kolkata has been receiving spells of rain since Wednesday night, as it registered 54.99 mm till 8.30 am on Thursday. Digha (41 mm) and Diamond Harbour (55 mm) were other places in south Bengal to receive significant rainfall.

The monsoon revived in Gangetic West Bengal after a week of dry weather, resulting in rain for the next two to three days, weather officials said. Telangana continued to receive excellent rainfall with Kothagudem in Khammam district and several other places getting 5 cm of downpour.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely to occur at a few places over Telangana during the next five days. Heavy rain lashing Hyderabad and other places for a few days threw normal life out of gear as many low-lying areas were inundated. Waterlogging was witnessed in several places of the state capital, while rivulets and other water bodies are filled to the rim.

In Assam, the Dhansiri river at Golaghat town and Numaligarh in Golaghat, and Kushiyara river at Karimganj town are flowing above the danger mark. There was light to moderate rain in many parts of Bihar, as Patna recorded 4.55 mm of rain and remained generally cloudy. Bhagalpur received 3 mm, Purnea 1.6 mm, while Gaya received trace rainfall.

Purnea recorded a maximum temperature of 33.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhagalpur (33.5), Patna (32.9) and Gaya (32.7). Rain in Punjab and Haryana brought the temperature down by several notches, with Chandigarh marking maximum temperature at 34.4 degrees Celsius. ­Heavy rain in Delhi kept humidity levels high, though the temperature remained at normal levels.

Maximum temperature was recorded at 34.4 degrees, consistent with the season’s average, while the minimum was 25.2 degrees, two notches below normal.