Monsoon active in Haryana, AP, Kerala

New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) Moderate to heavy rains lashed parts of north-west India as monsoon remained active in Haryana, while Southwest monsoon has been active over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala during the past 24 hours.

In Haryana, heavy rains pounded Karnal, recording 40.0 mm downpour overnight, turning it the wettest place in in the state, followed by Hissar measuring 16.2 mm and Narnaul 13.0 mm.

Other areas in the state, including Ferozepur Zirka, Pataudi, Karnal, Bhiwani, Dadri, Hodal, Safidon, Assand, Shahbad, Kaithal, Narnaul, Jhajjar, Hissar, Tosham, Jind, Nilokheri, Samalakha, Kurukshetra, Kalanaur, Dabwali, Ellanabad and Sonepat also had rainfall.

Rains eluded most parts of Punjab even as monsoon clouds hovered over the state. However, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm rain respectively till 0830 hours today.

Light rains also lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh with Bhuntar and Bhang-Manali in Kullu district recording 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm downpour till morning. Shimla registered trace rainfall till this morning.

However, moderate rainfall was reported from Solang Nullah which measured 4.0 mm.

Southwest monsoon has been active over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema, the weather office said.

Polavaram recorded six cm of rainfall, followed by Bhimavaram and Koyyalagudem, Dowlaiswaram and Rajahmundry, Gudivada 5 each, Adilabad, Kaleswaram, Mangalagiri and Sattenapalli, Tanuku, Yellandu 4 each, Kakinada, Nandyal, Narsapur, Nizamabad, Bhimadole and Tadepalligudem, Dubbak, Metpalli, Paleru Bridge and Sompeta 3 each.

In Kerala, many parts received heavy rainfall. Manandavadi received the maximum of 15 cms rainfall, followed by Irikkur with ten cm, local weather office said.

The other chief amounts of rainfall were recorded in Kasaragod, Mankombu and Thodupuzha with seven cm each and Mancheri, Ponnani, Aluva, Cochin Airpot and Thiruvalla with six cm each.

The weather office warned fishermen that strong onshore winds from Westerly direction, with about 45-55 km speed, were likely along Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep during the next 48 hours.

In Karnataka, life remained paralysed due to continuous heavy rain during the last two days in the hilly Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts in Karnataka.

Kali, Aghanashini, Bedti, Gangavali, Varada rivers in Uttara Kannada district were in full spate, while in Shimoga district Sagar and Sorab taluks were worst hit. Varada flowing near historically famous Banavasi had caused floods and Mogavalli village in Bhashi Grama Panchayat area had been marooned.

Sirsi taluk administration was conducting relief operations in the affected areas.

In Uttar Pradesh, Ganga river was rising in Varanasi, Ghazipur, Phaphamau, Mirzapur and Ballia, but sliding in Allahabad, Central Water Commission sources said in Varanasi.

The flood water level recorded in Ganga today stood at 77.9 metres in Phaphamau, 68.5 m at Mirzapur, 63.6 m at Varanasi, 56.2 m at Ghazipur and 51.4 m at Balia, sources added.

The river, however, was still flowing much below the danger mark in all these five places.

Meanwhile, Gomti river was receding at Sultanpur and was stable at Jaunpur, while the Yamuna and Rihand were stable at Naini and Kharra respectively.

In the national capital, the skies opened up today with the sunlight and high humidity levels resulting in return to slight humid conditions.

Though the maximum temperature dropped slightly from 36 degrees Celsius yesterday to 35.5 degrees C today, the sunlight, interspersed with a cloudy weather, and the humidity, (close to 90 per cent) caused Delhiites some discomfort.

In the northeast, Kolkata's weather became uncomfortable once again with temperatures remaining moderately high and intensely humid.

While the maximum relative humidity in the city was pegged at 98 per cent, 84.8 mm rainfall was recorded.

The maximum temperature in the city was 31.6 degrees Celsius and the minimum was recorded at 26.3 degrees Celsius.

Incessant rainfall over the past few days has triggered several landslides in different parts of Sikkim, disrupting road transport and destroying houses.

Official sources said about 25 houses had so far been evacuated from Chandmari area in upper Gangtok by the district administration and residents have been shifted to safer locations.

UNI