NEW DELHI :

 

AT LEAST 16 people were killed on Sunday in rain-related incidents as southwest monsoon remained active in northern and eastern India, triggering landslides and flash floods. The India Meteorological Department forecast active monsoon conditions in north, east and northeast India for the next 6-7 days, and predicted a subdued rainfall activity over west-central and south Peninsular India for the next 7 days. Jammu and Kashmir was the worst hit, with at least 12 people killed and several others missing after torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, prompting a multi-agency rescue operation. The worst devastation was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where most of the fatalities occurred. Rescue teams raced against time to trace the missing amid continuing rain and damaged roads, the officials said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi for the proposed statehood protest, decided to cut short his stay in the national capital and return to Jammu in the afternoon. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation in the rain- and flash flood-hit districts and directed officials to ensure immediate relief and assistance to the affected families. The rain began early Sunday with cloudbursts taking place in the forests of Kashmir.

 

The weather department has forecast moderate to widespread rainfall from July 19 to 23 in Jammu and Kashmir. In Uttarakhand, two people died after being struck by lightning in Haridwar district as continuous rainfall affected most parts of the state. The administration has issued red and orange alerts for 10 districts. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), landslides triggered by incessant rains have blocked 84 roads, including two national highways, at various locations across the state. The Meteorological Department issued warnings of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several parts of the state from Sunday for the next few days. An ‘orange alert’ was issued for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Bageshwar districts, while a yellow alert is in place for Chamoli, Almora and Pithoragarh districts. In Nagaland’s Kohima, at least three people lost their lives in flash floods, which washed away houses, blocked roads and trapped several people underneath debris, officials said. Extensive damage to homes, roads and public infrastructure was reported in Mon town, with several areas inundated and major routes blocked by landslides following hours of heavy rainfall. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll rising as several people are still reportedly trapped under the debris brought in by flash floods and landslides.