Heavy rains claim 46 more lives in the country

New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) With the monsoon continuing vigorously in many parts of the country, 46 more deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and Asom during the past 24 hours.

Flood fury continued in Uttar Pradesh, claiming 42 lives in the last 24 hours taking the toll to 100 so far.

At least 28 people died, when a country boat capsized mid-stream in the overflowing Rohin river in flood affected Maharajganj district.

Police said here seven people were still missing with rescue operations underway. The accident occured near Harakpur village under Paniyara police station area in the district.

In Sikkim three members of a family were killed when a landslide, triggered by incessant rainfall, washed away a house completely at Dentam bazaar, West Sikkim.

While Kumar Pradhan survived with major injuries, his wife Migma Pradhan (35), son Lalit(15) and daughter Lila(14) died in the incident.

A middle-aged man was electrocuted in Tamil Nadu's Tanjavur district after he came into contact with a snapped live wire following heavy rains at Nanjilkottai village.

Police said Hundri (40) met with his end while going to his village.

The Cauvery delta region of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam was experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall since yesterday, with Thanjavur recording the maximum of 10.6 cm, followed by Orathanadu 10.3 cm, Thiruvarur 9.1 cm, Nagapattinam 8.4 cm, Vettikadu 7 cm, Mannargudi 5.4 cm and Thiruthuraipoondi 4.2 cm.

Flood situation in Asom has worsened causing major damage to the flood control infrastructure as the death toll mounted to 16 in the state so far, official reports said.

The latest count said 4.5 million people were affected by the flood water in almost all the 24 of the 27 districts of the state.

So far 57 embankments had been destroyed, putting a hole on government claims of flood management, the reports said.

So far 385 relief camps and 264 temporary shelters had been opened as more than five lakh hectares of land, including 1.55 lakh hectares of crop land, was affected. More than 900 houses were damaged.

Light to moderate rain lashed isolated places in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh since last night, providing respite from hot and humid weather conditions.

The sky remained overcast at many places as monsoon clouds hovered during the day.

Moderate rain lashed Ludhiana, turning it into the wettest place in Punjab, recording 71.4 mm, followed by Hoshiarpur and Dasuya measuring 10 mm rainfall overnight.

Certain areas in Haryana, including Ambala and Karnal, also experienced rainfall.

Parts of Jammu region also experienced monsoon showers with Patti recording 2.4 mm rain. Chandigarh was also lashed by rain overnight and during the day today, giving relief to residents from hot and humid weather conditions.

As rains continued to elude the national capital today for the fourth day, warm and humid conditions prevailed in Delhi with the mercury shooting up to 36.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal.

The minimum also settled at a high of 28.8 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Incessant rains today lashed Mumbai and its suburbs but life in the metropolis was not affected as rail, road and air traffic continued unhampered.

The total rainfall in the city was 19.6 mm at Colaba and 3.1 mm at Santacruz. The weather bureau has warned of heavy rains, accompanied by gusty winds, in the next 24 hours.

In Shillong the flood situation in the low-lying areas of Meghalaya western region continued to be grim owing to flow of backwater of the mighty Brahmaputra and Jinjiram river.

Chief Minister D D Lapang, accompanied by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith M Sangma and senior government officials, made an aerial survey of some of the affected areas.

The South West Monsoon remained active over Kerala and Lakshadweep with most places in the region getting heavy rainfall.

According to the met department, the southwest monsoon has been vigorous in Rayalseema and Tamil Nadu and active in Asom, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Gangetic West Bengal, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Very heavy rains are likely to occur at most places in coastal Karnataka and Kerala and at many places in south Konkan and Goa.

Heavy rains are likely to occur at many places in Asom, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, north Konkan, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

UNI