New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): A deluge of rainfall has wreaked havoc in the northern and north-western parts of the country, causing widespread disruptions. The relentless downpour has brought daily life to a standstill, with flooded roads, suspended transportation, and power outages reported in several areas.
The heavy rainfall has also triggered concerns about potential landslides, flash floods, and waterlogging, leaving residents bracing for further chaos.
Rajasthan‘s Jaipur was the worst-affected due to very heavy to extremely heavy rains lashing the parts of the state and waterlogging the streets, creating traffic disruption on Monday.
The rainfall has been ongoing in the state capital and its surrounding area since Sunday, leading to waterlogging on Ajmer Road and Sikar Road.
According to the reports from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jaipur has recorded the most amount of rainfall at 79 mm, followed by Ajmer at 14 mm and Bikaner at 10 mm till 8:30 pm today.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also inspected the areas affected by waterlogging due to rain in Jaipur.
Adressing the situation, Sharma said, “For the last few days, there has been a continuous spell of rain in the state. In many places, the rain has broken previous records. I am constantly monitoring the situation. In some places, there is waterlogging and flood-like situations… In such a situation, people should keep their safety in mind and avoid bathing in rivers, waterfalls, and ponds. People living in low-lying areas should especially take care of their safety. Maintain distance from electric poles and wires. For safety reasons, avoid using basements during the rainy season… This spell of rain is likely to continue further as well. I appeal to all of you to take the warnings issued by the Meteorological Department seriously and take all necessary precautions. The state government is with the people of the state.”
Schools were also closed today in Jaipur city and rural Jaipur due to heavy rain.
Heavy rainfall also lashed parts of the national capital today, following which a ‘yellow’ warning was issued by the weather office. Visuals from the Udyog Bhawan area show commuters making their way through rainwater-filled streets clad in raincoats and clinching umbrellas.
Incessant rainfall has been causing massive waterlogging and traffic jams in several areas of the city, disrupting the normal lives of the residents. People were spotted navigating through waterlogged streets as the rain continued to lash the city.
Earlier on Saturday, a seven-year-old boy drowned in a waterlogged park in the New Delhi Rohini area.
In Haryana, heavy rainfall also lashed parts of Gurugram, causing massive waterlogging and traffic jams in several areas of the city. Key areas, including the Gurugram-Delhi Expressway and many other subways, were severely impacted.
Ambala also faced waterlogging due to heavy rain in the city. On this matter, State Minister Aseem Goel said, “230 mm of rainfall has been reported in the last 22-24 hours in the city. There is waterlogging in various areas. All officials, including SDM, visited parts of the city to assess the situation.”
Earlier on Sunday, Haryana Minister Aseem Goyal took stock of the situation after heavy rains lashed Ambala. According to IMD, Haryana is expected to receive isolated heavy rainfall till August 14.
In Himachal Pradesh, seven people have been rescued from the Nahan region after they got stranded midstream due to the increase in the water level of the Markanda River following heavy rain in the area on Sunday.
According to Saleem Azam, SDM of Nahan, JCB machines were used to rescue the trapped people in the area.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rains in several districts of Himachal Pradesh over the next five days. A yellow alert has been issued by the weather centre in Shimla for the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur.
Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist, IMD Himachal Pradesh, said that during the past 24 hours, most places in Himachal Pradesh received light to moderate rains.
“The districts of Una, Solan, and Hamirpur experienced heavy rains, with Una recording the highest at 100 mm. Bilaspur also received heavy rains and Nadaun recorded 72 mm. Solan and Kasauli also saw heavy rains,” he said.
In a press release, IMD said, “Fairly widespread to widespread light-moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and East Uttar Pradesh during 10th-16th; Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, West Uttar Pradesh on 10th, 11th and during 14th-16th; Punjab on 10th and 11th; and Haryana-Chandigarh during 10th, 11th and 14th August.” (ANI)
