Death toll in UP at 50, dry spell continues in Delhi

New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) Six more deaths in Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours have taken the toll in rain-related incidents to 50, even as a lull in rainfall activity in the national capital, soon after it was lashed by heavy showers a couple of days back, has resulted in a dry spell coupled with a high humidity level.

The capital recorded 35 degree celsius from yesterday's 34.6 degrees celsius, while the humidity level rose to about 65 per cent today.

Six boys drowned in the Varanasi and Jaunpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, taking the toll in rain-related incidents to 50 so far, a report said.

Though some areas of North West India like Amritsar, Ambala and Jammu had widespread rainfall during the last 24 hours, Delhi remained dry.

However, widespread moderate to heavy rainfall was reported in the last 24 hours, with the monsoon gaining momentum in Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Faizabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur and Bareilly divisions received rainfall, but people in several low-lying areas were facing problems after the rains.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) said major rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Rapti, Ghagra, Ken and Sharda were swelling along their course, following heavy rainfall in catchment areas.

In Kolkata, waterlogged streets and traffic snarls after continuous downpour left the commuters struggling to reach their destinations.

According to the Met department, suburbs experienced 88.9 mm of rainfall since last evening, while some other parts of the city recorded upto 112 mm of rainfall in an hour last evening.

In Srinagar, one-way traffic was allowed this morning on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed yesterday following landslides triggered by heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the South West monsoon has been active in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and coastal Karnataka, as well as over Kerala and Lakshwadeep, with most places continuing to get heavy rains.

The coastal areas in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kozhikode continued to be under threat of sea erosion.

Local Met office here warned of isolated heavy rains and also strong onshore winds from the westerly direction with a speed of 45-55 Kmph along Kerala coast and over Lakshwadeep.

Heavy rains are likely to occur at most places in Orissa, coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and at many places in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Konkan and Goa.

Heavy rains also lashed several areas of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, while other areas of the state received light to moderate rains during the past 24 hours, as the monsoon remained active in the state, the met office said today.

Light showers also lashed the tribal districts of Kinnuar, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu and Chamba with Patsio and Kalpa receiving 3.7 and two mm of rains respectively and registering a drop of two to three degrees in these districts, it said.

Shimla received 21.7 mm of rains till 0830 hrs and the met office said the state capital had recorded about 340.7 mm of rain from June one till date. Dharamshala received 14.4 mm rains.

UNI TEAM RA HT1910