The IMD said the intense rainfall over north India is because of an interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds
Unceasing rains over the weekend have brought north India to its knees, with deluges, landslides, and waterlogging in cities.
The Amarnath Yatra continues to be suspended due to the damaged Jammu-Srinagar Highway in Ramban. The Panchvaktra bridge in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi collapsed as heavy rains battered all districts.
Authorities in Uttarakhand have sounded a red alert and issued warnings to all districts until July 13 as at least six people have died. Meanwhile, four people, including two soldiers, died in Jammu and Kashmir.
Between July 8 and July 9 (8:30 am), Ladakh received 19.1 mm against the normal of 0.1 mm. This was more than 10,000 per cent of the normal rainfall.
The IMD said the intense rainfall over north India is because of an interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds.
The excessive rains in many parts of India in the first eight days of July have bridged the rainfall deficit for the entire country (243.2 mm, which is two per cent above the normal of 239.1 mm).
Over 200 complaints of waterlogging were reported as rain battered Delhi for the second day in a row on July 9. The city has seen more rain over the weekend than it usually does over the whole of July.
The Delhi Chief Minister, in a review meeting, said the city’s drainage system is not designed to receive so much rain. The Central Water Commission (CWC) said the water level in the Yamuna river in Delhi is rising and is expected to surpass the danger mark of 205.33 metres on July 10.
Chandigarh too received a record number of waterlogging complaints. The district administration of Madhya Pradesh initiated a rescue operation as four people were trapped in the Narmada river near Gopalpur Village in Jabalpur.
In Uttar Pradesh, four people were killed and four others were injured because of the rains. The Northern Railway has canceled around 17 trains and diverted around 12 others.
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