Monsoon In India: 27 People Killed As Heavy Rains Lash Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh

At least 27 people were killed in rain-related incidents in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh and thousands were moved to safety as heavy downpour lashed parts of west and central India on Monday and Tuesday.

Here is a brief account of how the affected states are dealing with incessant heavy downpours and flood like situations.

Gujarat

Six people died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, raising the toll to 69 since June 1, officials said. Heavy rains are pounding several parts of south and central Gujarat districts, causing a flood-like situation in many areas.

A total of 27,896 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas and 18,225 of them remained in shelters while the others have returned home, state Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi said.

While heavy rains continue to lash districts in south Gujarat since the last few days, parts of Kutch and Rajkot in the Saurashtra region also witnessed heavy showers since Monday night, officials said.

In 12 hours on Tuesday, Vagra (231 mm) taluka in the Bharuch district received very heavy rainfall, followed by Anjar (212 mm), Bhuj (197 mm), and Gandhidham (171 mm) in Kutch, and Waghai (144 mm) in Dang.

Rajkot city received 217 mm of rainfall since Monday night, throwing the normal life out of gear in the main urban centre of the Saurashtra region. Roads and low-lying societies were flooded due to rains. Vadodara, Navsari, Surat and Jamnagar districts also received substantial rainfall.

Heavy rains sent several reservoirs swelling in Gujarat. The Sardar Sarovar reservoir is 47.71 per cent full, a rise of 7 per cent over a week.

"As of now, the total 206 reservoirs in Gujarat are at 33.6 per cent of their total water storage capacity," said State Relief Commissioner P Swaroop.

Madhya Pradesh

The The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in Madhya Pradesh for heavy to very heavy rainfall in 33 of 52 districts of the state, while lightning amid steady downpour claimed seven lives in the last 24 hours.

The IMD said very heavy rainfall in the 64.5 to 204.4 mm range was likely to lash 33 districts.

An official from the revenue department said lightning strikes at various places killed seven persons in a 24-hour period ending at 2:30 pm on Monday, which took the statewide death toll from such incidents to 60 since June 1.

"The seven deaths in the last 24 hours comprised two in Mandla, and one each in Ashok Nagar, Datia, Guna, Narsinghpur and Narmadapurman," the official added.

IMD data showed Pachmarhi, the state's lone hill station, received 103.2 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period ending 8:30 AM on Monday.

It also showed that Raisen, Betul, Narmadapuram, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Bhopal, Gwalior and Indore received 86.4 mm, 72.6 mm, 70.4 mm, 55.0 mm, 55.0 mm, 46.4 mm, 21.9 mm and 17.2 mm rainfall, respectively, during this period.

Maharashtra

Three persons died in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra over the past 24 hours and 95 people were evacuated from some of the flooded places, a disaster management department report said on Tuesday.

Thirteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and three of the State Disaster Response Force were deployed in vulnerable districts of the state, it said.

Heavy rains and incessant downpour led to a rise in water levels of several rivers in Nashik district, where many temples, located on the bed of the Godavari river, were submerged.

The report added that two persons were killed after a structure collapsed in a Mumbai suburb, while one person drowned in Gadchiroli district, the report said.

Earlier, officials in Gadchiroli district said three persons were swept away in overflowing nullahs in the last three days and their bodies were fished out later. They added three more persons are still missing after being swept away in the nullah.

The Tuesday's report further said incessant showers affected 10 villages in Gadchiroli, Nandurbar and Mumbai suburban regions.

Mumbai and its suburbs were lashed by heavy rains and strong winds on Tuesday morning, leading to flooded of many parts of the city within a couple of hours, officials said.

Heavy showers continued to lash Nashik district, causing a rise in water levels of several rivers and submerging many temples located on the bed of the Godavari river. The IMD has issued a 'red' alert for Nashik district till July 14, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours.

Pune district too has been witnessing heavy rains since the last few days. A landslide occurred on a road leading to the famous Bhimashankar temple in Pune district in the early hours of Monday following heavy rains, officials said.

In the last 24 hours, Surgana in Nashik district received the highest rainfall at 238.8 mm, followed by Peth at 187.6 mm and Trimbakeshwar at 168 mm, an official said.

In Nagpur, three residents of Madhya Pradesh died and three others are missing after their vehicle was swept away from a flooded bridge on Tuesday, police said.

"The SUV with eight passengers was crossing a bridge that did not have railings on either side. The water flowing above the bridge swept away the vehicle. While two passengers swam to safety, we have recovered bodies of three persons and three others are missing," said an official.

District administrations in Thane and Palghar districts have alerted villages near river banks, warning them of a possible overflow of dams, as catchment areas have received good rainfall over the last few days, officials said on Tuesday.

As per a release issued by the Thane district administration, the Tansa and Modaksagar dams were on the verge of overflowing and villages on the banks of the rivers surrounding these have been put on alert.

It said villages on the banks of Tansa and Vaitarna rivers have been alerted about the possible overflow of the dams, which come under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. People living on the river banks in Shahapur, Bhiwandi, Wada, Vasai and Palghar talukas have been asked to take precautions.

The Damni dam area in the neighbouring district of Palghar has also received good rainfall and the reservoir was getting full and likely to cross the overflow limit soon, an official release said.

In a week's time, the dam water will be released into Surya river and hence, villages on the banks of the river have also been put on alert.

According to the Konkan divisional office, the average rainfall of Tuesday was 79.60 mm, and the maximum of 109.0 mm rain was recorded in Palghar district.

Thane received 106.30 mm rain, while Palghar saw 109.90 mm, Raigad 96.80 mm, Ratnagiri 63.40 mm and Sindhudurg 35.50 mm showers, it was stated.

Delhi and Rajasthan

After eluding the capital for over a week, rains lashed parts of Delhi on Monday afternoon bringing temporary relief from the muggy weather conditions. However, by evening, the weather again turned humid.

Moderate rainfall occurred at most places in Rajasthan while isolated places received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours ending Monday morning, weather officials said.

Assam

Over 3.79 lakh people are still reeling under floods across 10 districts of Assam which was battered by heavy spells of rain last month, according to an official bulletin on Monday.

No death due to drowning was reported during the day, with the toll in this year's flood and landslides standing at 192, according to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

(With PTI Inputs)