Fresh landslides in NE states, showers hit Delhi, UP

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Fresh landslides in Meghalaya forced northeastern States of Tripura, Mizoram, Barak Valley of Assam and Manipur to remain virtually cut off from the rest of the country, while Delhi and Uttar Pradesh experienced showers bringing down the mercury.

Hundreds of trucks carrying essential commodities to Tripura, Mizoram and parts of Manipur remained stranded and services of passenger buses were also suspended on the National Highway, the lifeline for landlocked Tripura and Mizoram.

The fresh landslides occurred last evening at Damsar near Damasara and Kuliang village at Sonapur following incessant rains in the area, Jaintia Hills District Deputy Commissioner F R Kharkongor told UNI.

The rain and the accompanying westerly winds brought about sudden coolness in Delhi, which has been under the spell of hot and humid weather conditions over the last week. The showers, caused by the influence of an off-shore Monsoon trough resulted in a drop in temperature in the city by three to four degrees.

People of Uttar Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief with the eastern and central areas including the state capital city witnessing sporadic rainfall in the last 24 hours.

According to Central Water Commission, the highest rainfall was recorded in Rae Barelli at 5.5 cm, followed by Fafamau, Allahabad, Katarniya Ghat and Behraich at 5 cm each, Lucknow, Banni, Bairdghat at four cm each, Sitapur at three cm.

Monsoon remained subdued in Punjab and Haryana and sultry weather conditions prevailed at most places in the region today.

However, parts of Himachal Pradesh experienced light rain since last night, dipping the temperatures in the state.

Barring the Nangal Dam site in Punjab, a dry spell continued in the plains, leading to hot and humid weather conditions.

A dry spell also prevailed in Haryana, where monsoon played truant, except traces of rainfall in Gullah and Ambala.

Humid weather conditions prevailed in Chandigarh following light showers.

However, rain lashed isolated places in Himachal Pradesh overnight. Parts of the Jammu region also received moderate to heavy rains.

''The current meteorological analysis suggests that scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over plains of Northwest India from August 28 to 31,'' the Met office said.

The people of Patna and its surrounding areas reeled under spate of sweltering heat continued to rise.

The Met office said the day's maximum temperature was recorded at 33 degrees Celsius and the high maximum relative humidity made the day sultry.

The southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada and active over Assam and Meghalaya, east Madhya Pradesh and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at many places in Konkan and Goa , Assam, Meghalaya, Gangetic West Bengal, Orissa, east Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, south Gujarat State, Marathwada, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Kerala and at a few places in Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttaranchal, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, east Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, north Gujarat State, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, north interior Karnataka, Lakshadweep at isolated places in west Rajasthan and south interior Karnataka.

UNI