Lightning claims 3 lives, floodwaters recede in UP, Bihar

New Delhi, Aug 25 (UNI) Three members of a family died when lightning struck them at Narottampur Bahiar village under Kajra police station area in Lakisarai district of Bihar today as the flood situation eased in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Villager Baso Yadav and his sons -- Faleshwar and Vipin Yadav were working in their field when lightning struck, killing them on the spot, police said.

Most rivers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were receding though Heavy rains lashed many areas in north-west India since last night, providing respite from hot weather conditions in the region.

Slight drizzle in some parts of the national capital brought relief to Delhiites from the hot and humid weather.

The met office has forecast a generally cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with one or two spells of rains or thundershowers in some areas.

Despite improving flood situation, almost 300 villages of eastern UP were still reported to be marooned.

According to Central Water Commission, the turbulent Ghaghra was overflowing the danger mark by 33 cm in Turtipar, while the Ganga, Sharda and Rapti were flowing below the danger mark.

In the last 24 hours, meterological department recorded highest rainfall in Bani (Rae Barelli) (5 cm), followed by Sultanpur and Moradabad (4 cm each), Neemsaar and Bhatpurvaghat (Lucknow) (3 cm each). Elgin Bridge and Jaunpur witnessed rainfall of 2 cm each.

The situation is considerably improving in Gorakhpur division with the continuous dip in water level of Ghaghra, Rapti, Rohini and Kuano rivers.

About 131 villages were affected due to flood in Gorakhpur division. However, traffic movement at Ram Janki Marg in Badhelganj area had became normal.

Moderate rain pounded isolated areas in Punjab with Ranjit Sagar Dam site receiving heavy rainfall overnight. The dam site recorded 74.6 mm downpour and turned as the wettest place in the state.

Nangal Dam site recorded 14.1 mm rainfall with Shahpur Kandi 10.2 mm, Madopur, near Pathankot, 6.0 mm and Ludhiana 1.0 mm rain till this morning.

Some parts of Haryana also experienced rains overnight with Rohtak recording 8.2 mm followed by Narnaul registering 6.0 mm and Hissar 0.4 mm rainfall. However, humid weather conditions prevailed in certain areas in the state.

Many areas in Himachal Pradesh, including mid and lower hills, experienced moderate rain. Gamroor with 24.4 mm rain was the wettest place in the state. Kasol recorded 24.2 mm, Guler 14.7 mm, Berthin 11.4 mm, and Sundernagar 4.7 mm rainfall. Chamba, Kheri, Surgani, Nagrota Surian, Pandoh and Una also experienced rainfall.

Shimla and its surrounding areas were also lashed by rain. Tourist resorts of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda in Shimla district and the key tourist place of Manali in Kullu district also had rainfall. Manali received 10.2 mm rain overnight.

Moderate rain lashed Chandigarh and its adjoining areas last night and the city received 28.4 mm rain till this morning. Chandigarh recorded the maximum humidity at 93 per cent and the minimum at 68 per cent.

The Met Office said moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh and few places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours.

Rajasthan is also likely to experience a fresh spell of showers with the monsoon becoming active again.

Southwest Monsoon was also vigorous over Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours under the influence of yesterday's cyclonic circulation over West-Central Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh Coast.

The system lay today over South Telangana and adjoining areas of Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema extending upto the mid-tropospheric level.

Under its influence, fairly widespread rainfall was likely over Telangana and Rayalaseema during next 48 hours, according to Indian Meteorology Department.

Moderate to rather heavy rainfall or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh also.

UNI