Red alert in Asom following floods, Manipur rivers in spate

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) A red alert was today sounded in Asom to tackle the first wave of a major flood that has displaced over 12,000 people so far while in Manipur people heaved a sign of relief after the rains stopped as the rivers were flowing at a high level.

In Asom, the Army has been kept on standby as the situation was fast becoming a threat. Asom Water Resource Minister Bharat Chandra Narah said the situation was worsening in Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh districts.

According to the Central Water Commission bulletin, the Brahmaputra river was flowing above the danger level in at least seven places in Asom.

Dibrugarh town as well as Lakhimpur district's Matmora town were both under threat due to the increasing water level.

The lower ridge of Arunachal Pradesh have been receiving heavy rainfall since the past 48 hours and Passighat recorded 70 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, threatening further rise in the water level.

''So far 125 villages have been affected with an estimated 149,856 people displaced in the first wave of floods to hit the state,'' said Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman.

Residents of flood-hit villages in the North Lakhmipur and Karimganj districts were forced out of their homes late on Monday and were now sheltered in makeshift tarpaulin tents and on other raised platforms and embankments.

''A total land area of about 4,285 hectares has already been submerged, including nearly 1,150 hectares of farmland,'' said a statement issued by the Asom government.

In Manipur, the Nambul River was flowing at a high level, while Imphal and the Iril rivers were also flowing at a danger level, Irrigation and flood department officials said.

The level of the rivers were between 780-785 m above sea level, which are quite high considering the danger of floods.

The maximum temperature was recorded at about 29 degrees Celsius and the minimum was 22 degrees in Manipur.

Delhi today limped back to dry weather after basking in cool weather over the last few days following a generous bounty of pre-Monsoon showers.

In Rajasthan, heat and humidity has intensified even as slight rainfall drizzled in the state.

Despite rains in Jodhpur, Ajmer, Ganganagar, Churu and Dabok temperatures have gone up again with Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer mapping 41 degrees Kota 40, Bikaner, Churu and Dabok 38, Ajmer 35 and Ganganagar 31, and Jaipur 38 degrees.

The maximum temperature rose at many places in Punjab with Amritsar recording 34.9 degrees, five degrees below normal while Ludhiana showed 33.8 degrees, seven degrees below normal.

The temperature settled at 34.1 degrees, six degrees below normal, at Patiala which was lashed by rain. The temperature also soared in Haryana despite rainfall.

Hissar, which usually turns out to be the hottest place in the state, registered the maximum at 32.5 degrees, eight degrees below normal. The town, lashed by rain, measured 11 mm rainfall during the day.

Ambala and Karnal, also, experienced rain and recorded the maximum temperatures at 34.2 degrees and 31.5 degrees, respectively.

In Himachal Pradesh, the mercury slightly dipped in mid and lower hills of the state in the wake of rainfall. Una recorded 34 degrees from yesterday's 35.2 degrees.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 32.7 degrees, Sundernagar in Mandi district 29.9 degrees and Kalpa in Kinnaur district 23.3 degrees.

Rains accompanied by intermittent drizzle has further cooled the temperature in Bihar and its surrounding areas.

Rains continued to lash Kerala and Lakshadweep, with most places receiving heavy downpours during the past 24 hours, the Met office said.

While Kozhikode and Piravam received the highest rainfall of 11 cm, Thalassery and Kasargode received eight cm, followed by CIL Kochi, Karipur Airport, Pattambi and Koilandi six cm each, the office added.

Irikkur, Vadakara, Thirtala, Kunnamkulam, Kochi Airport, Paravur, Alappuzha, Agathi and Aminidweep received five cm of rain during the period.

The Met office warned of strong onshore winds from the westerly direction with speed reaching 45/55 Kmph along and off the Kerala coast and Lakshwadeep.

The monsoon showers have finally brought the soaring temperatures down in Maharashtra. The Met department today predicted heavy rainfall in parts of Maharashtra over the next few days.

The south-west monsoon has hit the capital and covered Dhanau and Parbhani areas of Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, said weather bureau officials.

However, the city recorded 22.3 mm and 8.2 mm of rains at Santacruz and Colaba respectively in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, south-west monsoon has further advanced into parts of Konkan, Marathwada and the Vidharbha region.

The Met department has also issued a warning to fishermen against venturing into the high seas.

In Gujarat, the much awaited rains poured in the city, giving respite to people from the scorching heat.

UNI