Guj, TN, Udaipur issue flood alert;Asom under drought-like situation

New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) A flood warning has been issued in 11 districts of Tamil Nadu while the Army was on standby in Rajasthan's Udaipur city today as all water bodies in the region were overflowing due to torrential rains over the past few days.

In view of overflow from the Mettur Dam this morning, 11 downstream districts in Tamil Nadu -- Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Perambalur -- have been placed on alert.

In the Lake city of Udaipur, Asia's largest manmade Jaisamand lake has been overflowing since Saturday. Power and water supply has been disrupted and communication lines have snapped.

Four school students were swept away in Nana town in Pali district in Rajasthan a car driver and a truck were swept away in Sirohi.

Reports from Jodhpur say 25 cusecs of water was discharged from Jawai dam in Pali district which were threatening to flood the regions in Barmer and Jalore.

Threat of fresh floods once again loomed large over Central Gujarat as more than 12 lakh cusecs water was released from Kadana and Dharoi dams into Mahi and Sabarmati rivers respectively.

High alert has been sounded in 33 villages of Panchmahals and 42 villages of Anand and four villages of Kheda district.

Four more people have died in rain-related incidents in western Madhya Pradesh taking the toll to 84.

While a flood alert has been issued in three states, parts of Asom's 20 districts are experiencing a drought-like situation which has affected the standing Sali plantation.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has assessed the situation along with the departments concerned and the Revenue department has already sanctioned Rs 148 lakh for the affected districts.

Heavy rains lashed Shimla and other adjoining areas this afternoon even as the lower and medium hills of the state had respite from the wet conditions for the second day today.

Moderate rain lashed certain areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Guler and Sujanpur Tira in Kangra district, respectively recording 71.5 mm and 49.5 mm rain overnight. Nagrota Surian reported 26.0 mm, Gamroor 8.2 mm and Naudan 3.5 mm rainfall overnight.

Arunachal Pradesh recorded about 30 mm of rainfall and a relative humidity of about 90 per cent. Rain and thunder showers were likely to occur in the state during the next 24 hours.

North Bengal is likely to experience heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours under the active influence of the South West Monsoon.

Hot and humid weather conditions persisted in the plains in north-west India even as rains lashed isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab during the past 24 hours.

Heavy rain lashed Patti area in Punjab, recording 64.2 mm while Shahpur kandi measured 12.0 mm downpour this morning. Nangal Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam sites recorded 4.0 and 36.4 mm rainfall respectively.

Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over west Madhya Pradesh and active over east Rajasthan but it has been subdued over Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Marathwada and Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy rains are likely to occur at most places in Gujarat and many places in Gangetic West Bengal, Orissa, south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Konkan, Goa, Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

UNI TEAM AK AT BD1839