SEVERAL rivers in Uttarakhand, including the Alaknanda, Mandakini and Bhagirathi, were flowing at or above warning and danger levels on Thursday following continuous rainfall, prompting authorities to issue alerts, suspend schools in three districts and ask officials to remain on high alert. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Alaknanda at Rudraprayag was flowing at the danger level of 627 metres at 6 am and rising, while the Mandakini was recorded at 626.20 metres at 7 am, 0.20 metres above its danger level of 626 metres. The Bhagirathi at Devprayag was flowing at the warning level of 462 metres and rising, while the Raisi (Banganga) river in Haridwar was recorded at 230.09 metres, 0.09 metres above the warning level. In view of the rising water levels, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar directed officials to maintain the highest level of preparedness and issue warnings through loudspeakers to people living along riverbanks, asking them to move to safer places. 

 

 

THE IMD on Thursday issued an orange alert forecasting heavy rainfall and strong winds in three Keralam districts even as floodwaters began receding in several affected areas, officials said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued the red alert for the day in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts at 1 pm. A ‘red alert’ denotes extremely heavy rainfall of over 204 mm in 24 hours, while an ‘orange alert’ indicates very heavy rainfall ranging between 115mm and 204 mm. IMD also issued an orange alert for the day in Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Parts of eastern Rajasthan receive heavy rainfall PARTS of eastern Rajasthan received moderate to heavy rainfall on Thursday, with isolated places recording very heavy showers, while western regions witnessed light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder, according to the Meteorological Department. In eastern Rajasthan, several areas in Bharatpur and Alwar districts recorded notable rainfall. Kumher (Bharatpur) received 14 cm, Rupbas (Bharatpur) 13 cm and Gadhigad (Alwar) 13 cm. Bharatpur tehsil recorded 12 cm, while Bari (Dholpur), Deeg (Bharatpur) and Nadbai (Bharatpur) recorded nine cm each. Other areas, including Baseri (Dholpur), received eight cm, Nagar (Bharatpur) seven cm, and Tijara and Ramgarh (Alwar) six cm each. Several places such as Karauli, Pahari (Bharatpur) and Alwar recorded around 5 cm rainfall.

 

 

The IMD on Thursday forecast heavy rain in some places across West Bengal till August 7 owing to an active monsoon and favourable wind pattern. Very heavy precipitation is likely over the south Bengal districts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur and Bankura, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Heavy rain is likely over Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Jhargram, Purulia and Paschim Bardhaman districts till Friday, it said. The sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar will receive heavy downpour till Friday, the IMD said.

 

The coastal districts, which have received heavy rain over the last couple of days, are likely to receive more downpour during the next two days, it said. Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district recorded the highest rainfall in West Bengal in 24 hours till 8.30 am at 111 mm on Thursday, according to IMD data. Kolkata received significantly high rainfall at 66 mm during the period, while neighbouring Salt Lake got 62 mm of rain, the IMD said. The other places in the state which received good amounts of rainfall are Kalaikunda (77 mm), Canning (56 mm), Sagar Island (53 mm), and Haldia (52 mm), it said.