One dead as flash flood sweeps J&K district

While rain brings down mercury in UP, Himachal

One person died and eight others were rescued in flash flood in Udhampur and Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Sunil Kumar and Suraj Prakash, drivers of a JCB and tractor trolley, collecting stones from the bed of Barmi Nallah in Udhampur district were washed away in flash floods last evening,” officials said on Wednesday.

While Sunil Kumar managed to save himself by swimming, Prakash was washed away, they said. The police and Army launched a rescue operation during the night and Prakash’s body was recovered five kilometres down the run of the river, they added.

Eight other people, who were collecting sand from near Surankote Nallah on Tuesday evening, were caught in the flash floods in the river, they said. They were saved by the police and Army in the night, the officials added.

Rains lashes UP

Moderate to heavy rain occurred at many places over western and a few places over eastern Uttar Pradesh districts in the past 24 hours, bringing down temperatures.

According to the Met department, recorded Banda 4 cm rainfall, Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, Sambhal and Sitapur-3 cm each, Kheri, Malihabad (Lucknow) and Safipur (Unnao)- 2 cm each.

Day temperature largely fell in Bareilly, Jhansi, Agra divisions; markedly fell in Faizabad and Lucknow divisions; appreciably fell in Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Kanpur divisions and changed little in the remaining divisions of the state.

Highest maximum temperature was recorded at 41.6 degrees Celsius in Etawah. The Met department predicted rain or thundershowers at many places over west and a few places over east UP.

Himachal also hit

Temperatures across Himachal Pradesh fell further on Wednesday after widespread rain with Jogindernagar town recording the highest amount — 113 mm — in the state, the met office said. More rains are in store.

“Precipitation occurred at most places in the state with heavy rain and thundershowers in Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Solan and Hamirpur districts during the past 24 hours (since Tuesday evening). The rain lowered the maximum and minimum temperatures by two to three notches,” an official of the meteorological office here said.

According to the Met office, heavy rain would occur at some places over mid and low hills till Friday. Dalhousie and Baijnath towns received 86 mm and 78 mm rain respectively, till Wednesday morning.

However, capital Shimla experienced only 17 mm, while Manali and Dharamsala towns got 24 mm each. Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, saw 9 mm of rain.

The widespread rainfall has brought down temperatures. Shimla, popular among the tourists as the Queen of Hills, recorded a high of 23.5 degrees Celsius, down from Tuesday’s 25.5 degrees Celsius.

Likewise, Kalpa in Kinnaur district saw the maximum temperature at 24.4 degrees Celsius. Dharamsala recorded a maximum of 24.6 degrees Celsius, while in Una town the high was 30.6 degrees Celsius.