Monsoon: UP death toll 79; Kolkata submerged

New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) Death toll in rain-related incidents today climbed to 79 in Uttar Pradesh and a flood-like situation prevailed in the state with two rivers flowing near the danger level, while large parts of Kolkata and its suburbs were inundated by water following hours of torrential rains.

In Uttar Pradesh, Sharda river was only 7 cm away from the danger mark in Paliakala, while Ghagra was 27 cm away at Ayodhya.

Central Water Commission said all major rivers including Ghagra, Sai, Gomti and Rapti were rising along their course, but were still below the danger mark.

Ankinghat received the maximum rainfall of 5 mm in the last 24 hours, followed by Bareilly 4 mm, Hamirpur 4 mm and Kanpur 3 mm.

The toll in rainfall related incidents climbed to 79 in the state after lightning claimed three more lives in Allahabad and Mahoba districts.

Monsoon continued to play truant in the plains of Punjab and Haryana and sultry weather conditions prevailed at most places in the region.

Barring few areas in Punjab, a dry spell continued in the plains as monsoon remained subdued in the area, leading to hot and humid weather conditions. Pati recorded 12.2 mm rain fall while Madhopur, near Pathankot, received 1.0 mm, Shahpur Kandi 2.0 mm and Amritsar 0.2 mm rainfall.

In Himachal Pradesh, Shimla and its adjoining areas were receiving rains since yesterday evening even as the dry spell continued in the lower areas for the fifth day, the Met office said.

Shimla town and Dharamshala in Kangra district recorded 46.8 mm and 47.6 mm of rainfall respectively, while Dhundi in Kullu district received 20.5 mm during the last 24 hours.

In West Bengal, following torrential rains, large parts of South and North Kolkata were submerged bringing traffic to a halt in some places and disrupting at others. At many places makeshift boats were seen ferrying people. The busy central Kolkata also witnessed heavy water-logging.

Water entered many houses in low-lying areas bringing to the fore the city's pathetic drainage system.

State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta told newspersons that pumps were pressed into service to drain out water. He said six boats were deployed to ferry people in Amherst Street in the north and Phulbagan and Manicktala in north-east Kolkata.

Trees were also uprooted in many places, disturbing the movement of traffic. Most schools declared a rainy day. Attendence in offices was also low. The city recorded 180 mm of rainfall.

The national capital experienced light showers recording a rainfall of 0.8 mm even as the weatherman predicted heavy rainfall for the next few days.

The rain, which began at around 1300 hours, brought down the maximum temperature to 32 degrees, from 32.4 degrees yesterday.

It also brought down the minimum temperature by nearly three degrees Celsius to 27.4 degrees, from 30.4 degrees last night.

In south Gujarat, monsoon picked up after a brief interlude which according to Additional District Collector B V Mewada, is a good sign for the agricultural crops in the region.

According to figures provided by district flood control authorities, many talukas in Surat like Kamrej(34 mm.), Nizar(27 mm), Olpad(21 mm) and Songadh(31 mm) received relatively better rainfall. However, the rainfall was mild in talukas like Bardoli(01 mm), Mahuva(01 mm), Mandvi(09 mm), Mangrol(09 mm), Palsana(06 mm), Uchchal(06 mm), Umrapada(14 mm), Valode(01 mm) and Vyara(14 mm).

Most parts of Madhya Pradesh were receiving rainfall in the season's first phase of heavy precipitation throughout the state.

''The wet spell is likely to continue for two to three days. An upper air cyclonic circulation exists over Jabalpur,'' said Regional Meteorological Centre Director D P Dubey.

In Karnataka, authorities at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir across river Cauvery further increased the outflow to 40,681 cusecs following an inflow increase to 45,308 cusecs following copious rainfall in the catchment areas in Kodagu.

Several parts of Kerala received good rainfall during the past 24 hours, while the southwest monsoon was weak over Lakshadweep.

The local Met office said Nilambur received the maximum of 10 cm rainfall, Manandavadi and Mannarkad received six cm each and Palakkad, Punalur and Irikkur five cm each.

UNI Team PK VV1924