Five die in Rajasthan, rains in UP, east and west parts of country

New Delhi, July 8 (UNI) Five people died in the last 24 hours in heat wave related incidents in Rajasthan even as monsoon became active in eastern Uttar Pradesh and rains lashed eastern and western parts of the country.

Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad and Kanpur divisions experienced heavy rains, the weatherman said here today.

Khadda in Deoria district received maximum rainfall at 18 cm, followed by Brijghat 15, Gorakhpur 12, Bansi 9, Kakrahi 8 and Ballia five cm.

Following showers accompanied by high velocity winds, the temperature also plunged below noraml, especially in Allahabad and Varanasi divisions.

However, the mercury hovered above normal in Jhansi, Bareilly and Agra divisions.

Meanwhile, 11 jawans of Border Security Forces (BSF) have been admitted to the hospital at Bikaner in Rajasthan following deterioration of their health due to excessive heat.

In Gujarat, the second spell of rainfall this week has improved the drinking water and crop situation.

According to official sources, Bhadar dam, one of the main drinking water sources for Rajkot has registered a 10 feet increase in the water level following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas.

Bhadar dam touched a 24 feet level, even as the capacity of the dam is 34 feet.

The drinking water problem in the district has eased following the second wet-spell. The other reservoirs --Aaji, Nyari-l and Nyari-ll, supplying drinking water to the city, also registered an increase in water level by one to three feet, sources said.

Fodana and Advana dams of the Porbandar district which had been badly hit following the decreased water level, have received the fresh inflow in the second spell which has solved the drinking water problems for at least eight months, sources said.

Amreli and Surendrangar districts of the region also got the much-needed rain in the second spell from Tuesday to Thursday. Most of the dams of the districts received sufficient fresh waters and eased the drinking water problems.

Meanwhile, showers were also reported from some parts of Rajasthan, especially in the border areas of Barmer, Mount Abu, Jaisamand and Bharatpur in the last 24 hours.

Heat and humidity were still high in most parts of Rajasthan including state capital which recorded 71 per cent humidity early in the day.

UNI TEAM PA AT RK1855