UP death toll 41; Madhopur wettest place in country

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) The death toll due to rain related incidents in Uttar Pradesh reached 41 today while heavy downpours were recorded in UP, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala with Madhopur in Punjab receiving the highest rainfall of 68 mm in the country.

In Uttar Pradesh, the delayed monsoon finally became active with several places recording heavy downpour in the last 24 hours.

The toll in rainfall-related incidents in the state climbed to 41 with deaths of three people in Azamgarh and Sant Kabirnagar districts.

The weatherman said it rained heavily in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Moradabad and Bareilly divisions consecutively.

Central Water Commission (CWC) said all major rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Ghagra, Gomti, Rapti, Ken and Sharda were rising, but were still under the danger mark.

Meanwhile, the temperature hovered below normal in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad and Allahabad following rainfall accompanied by velocity winds.

In the northwestern region, humid and hot conditions prevailed with rains mainly restricted to the Himachal hills but showers in the forenoon brought some relief in Chandigarh.

In Punjab, Madhopur, near Pathankot, received the highest rainfall in the state with 68 mm while Nangal, where the downpour was at 88mm yesterday, had a comparative low of 30mm.

Amritsar which had remained dry yesterday, recorded 21.8 mm rains while Patiala remained dry even today so far.

Ludhiana had traces of rains at .8mm.

Weathermen said the fresh spell of rains were caused by an upper air cyclonic storm which lay over Haryana and its neighbouring areas.

In Himachal Pradesh, moderate to heavy rain pounded many areas last night, triggering landslides. The capital town of Shimla received heavy downpour, recording 66.8 mm rainfall till morning, followed by Nagrota Surian registering 62.8 mm, Guler 46.5 mm, Gamroor 45 mm, Pandoh 43.5 mm, Bhuntar 10.2 mm and Sundernagar 1.7 mm.

The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri power project in Shimla district, which was again shut down last night due to increase in the silt level, resumed generation early morning today, a report from Shimla quoting an official spokesman said.

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