Water, water everywhere

NEW DELHI: While the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal brought heavy rains to Orissa and Andhra Pradesh on Monday, in Kerala, three people were killed and several houses damaged in the torrential rains triggered by the Southwest monsoon.

Two children were killed when their house collapsed in the torrential rains at Devikulam in Idukki district. The body of Ramshed (19), who was washed away in the Gulikapuzha river in Kozhikode district was recovered on Monday. With these deaths, the toll in the monsoon related incidents rose to 87.

More than ten houses were completely damaged and 70 were partially damaged. The crop loss so far has been estimated at about Rs40 crore. 

Meanwhile, the first monsoon rains continued to elude Delhi though it has covered some parts of Western Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh.

Similarly, warm humid conditions continue to prevail in Himachal Pradesh even as light showers lashed mid and lower hills of the state during the last 24 hrs.

While several areas in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan were lashed by rainfall in the last 24 hrs, people in other areas are still reeling under sultry weather.

The water level in Harangi reservoir of Karnataka has reached its brim of 2,859 ft and other dams were fast nearing the full level. 60,000 cusecs of water was released from Vamsadhara River at Gottra Barrage in Hirmandalam Mandal of Andhra Pradesh. In Vizianagaram district, Nagavali River touched the danger level near Thotapalli. As many as 14 houses have been totally damaged and another four partially damaged during the last 24 hours due to sea erosion at Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

At least seven people were killed and eight others missing in flash floods in Orissa and many rivers are rising above danger levels in Rayagada district. Heavy showers triggered the flash floods in the district’s Gunpur area. Most parts of the state’s coastal areas have been battered by heavy rainfall for 30 hours almost continuously.
President APJ Abdul Kalam’s proposed visit to Berhampur on Monday had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Meteorological office in Orissa said the depression is likely to move in the west north westerly direction and cause rains and thundershowers at many places over coastal Orissa and most parts of interior Orissa during the next 24 hours.

The authorities in north coastal Andhra Pradesh have been put on alert following heavy rains in the region. Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said people from the vulnerable areas would be evacuated to safer places. The Met office predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rain in many districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 48 hours.

Rainfall or thundershowers are also likely at many places in Uttar Pradesh, while some areas may receive heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours.

Pune under flood alert

Haima Desshpande

PUNE: The weather bureau’s forecast of heavy rainfall for another 48 hours has put the city administration on flood alert. The civic body and district administration have already started evacuating people from flood-prone areas to 39 camps set up in municipal schools in the city and surrounding areas.

Following incessant rains since Saturday, two disaster management cells - at the Pune Municipal Corporation building and near the Katraj Dam - have already been activated and have been operational since Sunday. The cells headed by a deputy municipal commissioner have been functioning round the clock in three shifts.

All the 14 wards offices in the city have also been put on high alert and are functioning round the clock. Police and fire brigade personnel are also on high alert.

The Mula and Mutha rivers are flowing well above the danger mark and the floodgates of the Khadakvasla dam have been opened. About 30,000 cusecs of water have been released from the dam causing heavy flooding in the catchment areas. Water in the Mulshi dam is also continuously rising and is also flowing above the danger level.